Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Waddu expressed dissatisfaction with the team's stars' performance after the World Cup

Following the match that ended in a 1-1 draw against AmaZulu in Durban, Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Waddu expressed strong dissatisfaction with his club's stars. Among the players who received a 'wake-up call' were Kamogelo Selebelele and goalkeeper Sipho Chane.

Abdeslam Waddu raised an alarm among his leading players, including captain Nkosinathi Sibisi and starting goalkeeper Sipho Chane, after the team dropped points in their second Betway Premier League season match against AmaZulu.

The match, held on a cool evening at Kings Park stadium, seemed like a potential victory for the Pirates, as they dominated the start of the game and scored the first goal. However, AmaZulu could have gone into halftime with a 2-1 lead, as the goal was disallowed for offside before Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya equalized late in the first half.

These incidents, along with other moments, caused frustration for Waddu, who did not hide his disappointment during the post-match interview.

Waddu noted that despite congratulations from Sibisi and Chane regarding World Cup participation, they need to 'wake up' because the coach has no time for their recovery. He admitted that his team failed to capitalize after putting strong pressure on Usutu in the beginning of the game.

The coach stated: 'I love my team, and I will say that we definitely deserved more. I will talk about the second half because then we played better, not in the first. We should have played better. But the credit belongs to AmaZulu—they are a tough opponent. They are well-trained. I like their coach (Arthur Zwane); he is one of the best in the league and very humble.'

The draw allowed Kaizer Chiefs to take first place in the standings, six points ahead of their upcoming match against Mamelodi Sundowns.

Abdeslami Wadee, the head coach of Orlando Pirates, stated that he is using a more measured approach to the start of the new season. He acknowledged that he learned lessons from the early difficulties of last season and is now treating the club's new acquisitions with more patience as the team begins another intense campaign.

During the transfer window, the team significantly strengthened its squad by signing at least nine new players. These players are preparing for participation in domestic tournaments and the CAF Champions League. Four of these newcomers debuted in Saturday's victory over the recently promoted Milford FC, having been introduced in the second half as Pirates sought to gain maximum points on the opening day of the Betway Premiership season.

This tactical approach differs from last season, when Wadee quickly integrated new footballers into the main squad after taking over from Jose Rivera. This rapid start led to difficult moments, as Pirates suffered two consecutive defeats in the first two league matches, which immediately put pressure on the new coach.

This time, the Moroccan specialist decided to ensure greater stability by giving new players time to adapt to the club's demands. Wadee noted: 'New players, you know, even I am learning; it is never too late to learn.' He added that last season he wanted to rush the integration of new players into the starting lineup, whereas this season he started with greater stability in the squad.

Wadee believes that the gradual inclusion of new footballers will allow them to have a greater impact as the season progresses. He emphasized that the new players bring additional energy and control to the game, especially when brought on in the second half. He expressed confidence that they will feature more frequently throughout the season.

The victory over Milford provided Pirates with an ideal start in defending their title, but Wadee realizes that the upcoming challenges will increase significantly. The team is now focusing on the MTN8 tournament, where it will begin defending its title against Durban City on August 8th at the Orlando Amstel Arena. Pirates has won this tournament for the past four seasons and intends to continue dominating it while balancing its ambitions in the Betway Premiership, CAF Champions League, and other cup competitions.