Orlando Pirates have concluded their two-week preseason tour in Spain, which was marked by a 1-0 defeat to Neom FC on Friday. Despite this loss, the camp provided coach Abdelsalam Waddu with valuable preparation before a season where the Buccaneers are expected to face high competition on several fronts.
During this training camp, Pirates tested their strength against strong opponents from Spain and Saudi Arabia, aiming to build a squad capable of defending the Betway Premiership title, as well as competing for cup trophies and continental success. In five friendly matches, the team secured two wins, one draw, and suffered two defeats. However, the technical staff focused less on the results and more on improving physical fitness, tactical development, and strengthening team cohesion.
The Buccaneers enter the new season with heightened expectations, having won the historic domestic treble under Waddu last season, securing the Betway Premiership, MTN8, and the Carling Knockout Cup. Maintaining such a level of success will require more than just relying on the squad that brought home the awards last year.
Given the demanding schedule, which includes domestic cup tournaments and the CAF Champions League, Waddu used the preseason to assess options, provide opportunities for young players, and integrate returning international players after participating in the FIFA World Cup with the Bafana Bafana national team. The Spanish camp also allowed the coaching staff to work on defensive organization, attacking schemes, and the tactical flexibility needed for the upcoming season with various challenges.
The departure of key players has increased the importance of recovery and ensuring sufficient squad depth to handle the demands of competitions in South Africa and on the continent. Although preseason results are rarely the final measure of success, Pirates draw confidence from the progress made during the trip abroad. Matches against diverse teams gave Waddu a clearer picture of his squad's strengths and areas needing improvement before competitive football begins.
The Moroccan coach will now focus on finalizing plans before the opening match, where Pirates will begin defending their championship title against the recently promoted Milford FC at the Orlando Stadium. Nevertheless, the task goes far beyond the first game. Pirates will aim to retain last season's trophies while simultaneously improving their standing in the CAF Champions League, where they will compete with the continent's best clubs. The foundations laid in Spain will be tested when the Buccaneers return home, and the goal remains clear: to remain a leading force in South Africa and prove their ability to compete consistently at the highest level.
The Orlando Pirates team is preparing for the final match of the pre-season tournament in Spain against Neom FC on Friday. This game comes amid confident spirits after Boitumelo Radiope scored the winning goal in a friendly match against Las Palmas.
The Buccaneers will conclude their European training camp against the Saudi side before returning home for final preparations for the start of the new Betway Premiership season. Radiope has established himself as one of the standout players during the Pirates' tour, utilizing his opportunities in front of goal and strengthening his position for more active participation under head coach Abdeslam Waddu.
The striker's goal against Las Palmas continued an impressive pre-season campaign, providing Waddu with an additional attacking option as the Buccaneers prepare to defend their league title. For the Moroccan coach, this victory was another encouraging step in his second pre-season, after leading Pirates to a historic domestic treble last season.
In four matches in Spain, Pirates secured two wins, one draw, and one loss. The tour allowed the team to gain valuable experience for improving physical fitness, integrating players, and refining tactical combinations. Beyond the results, the technical staff is pleased with the consistent progress of the entire squad against strong opponents, particularly noting improvements in defensive organization and ball possession understanding.
The camp also provided several young players with valuable experience, while competition for spots intensified ahead of the start of the new campaign. Friday's match against the ambitious Saudi club Neom FC represents the last chance for Waddu to assess his squad before the resumption of competitive football. This fixture is expected to provide further insight into the combinations and players the coach can rely on when defending the title.
Although pre-season results are rarely the ultimate measure of success, the Buccaneers aim to conclude the tour positively and return home with confidence before the intense season. Pirates will begin defending their Betway Premiership crown on Saturday, August 1st, hosting newcomers Milford FC at the Orlando Amstel Arena. This match generates early interest as Milford earned promotion after defeating Cape Town City in the National First Division playoffs, replacing Magesi FC in the top division.
However, Pirates will have little time to adapt to the season. Seven days after their league debut, they will begin defending their MTN8 trophy at home against Durban City on August 8th, aiming to retain the first of the three trophies won in last season's historic treble. Then, the Buccaneers will travel to KwaZulu-Natal to face AmaZulu on August 12th, followed by another trip to Gqeberha against Chippa United on August 16th. They will return to Orlando Stadium on August 25th to host Sekhukhune United, thus starting another demanding campaign in domestic competitions and the CAF Champions League.
Khalil Ben Youssef, former coach of Kaizer Chiefs and representative of Isithombe, has been appointed as the head coach of Durban City. He is preparing to debut in the CAF tournament, where he faces a challenging task—a match against the current league champions, Orlando Pirates, in the MTN8 next month.
Ben Youssef begins the season with Durban after the team finished eighth in its first season in the Betway Premiership. This debut season started under the guidance of experienced coach Gavin Hunt, with Pitso Dladla as his assistant.
Despite securing a spot in the top eight bringing the team the heavy burden of facing the titled Orlando Pirates in the cup opener, Ben Youssef and Durban City hope that the Buccaneers do not possess the sharpness that characterized their previous campaign, given current transfer rumors.
Previously, while working as an assistant coach at Kaizer Chiefs, the Tunisian tactician faced Pirates in the Soweto Derby, which ended in a frustrating draw after a previous match where a painful 3-0 victory was secured.
Now Ben Youssef leads the new, motivated Durban City team, which carries significant pressure. They previously met at Orlando Stadium late last season when Dladla was in charge. Thanks to luck and strong defensive discipline, Durban managed to draw 0-0 with Pirates, thus delaying the Buccaneers' championship celebration.
Although Dladla led the club to historic glory in the Nedbank Cup, he lacks experience in the top league and the necessary CAF coaching qualifications. The latter are strict requirements for managing the team in the upcoming CAF Confederation Cup.
Club chairman Farook Kadodia previously stated that they would 'cross this bridge when we get there,' in response to Independent Media's questions regarding Dladla's CAF A license. Consequently, Dladla will return to the role of assistant coach, playing an important role in integrating Ben Youssef into the head coach position.
The visitors (Durban City) frustrated the highly motivated home team for all 90 minutes, defending numerically and preventing clear chances. It was a masterclass in rigid organization, which became a hallmark of their debut season in the top division.
This tenacious display by the KwaZulu-Natal side was not well received by the 'Ghost,' who watched his team still win the Premiership trophy a few days later. Pirates now enter this MTN8 match with the determination to start a new season with the first step towards defending their title. In Soweto, where expectations are very high, the Buccaneers know that any result other than a convincing victory will be regarded as an extremely disappointing start.
On the other hand, Durban City has its own high aspirations. Already having experience of success in the Nedbank Cup playoffs, the KZN side firmly believes that another tactical surprise in Orlando could pave the way to winning even more trophies.
