Abdeslam Waddu experienced all the emotions of the Soweto Derby. When he did not express his disappointment by throwing objects or loosening his tie, he lay on the ground. However, in the end, everything made sense: the Moroccan triumphantly knelt down after the final whistle, clenching his fist and pointing it to the sky.
The Pirates, perhaps the most exciting team in domestic football since the start of the season, faced their second toughest test against bitter rivals Kaizer Chiefs. Previously, Pirates met Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final.
After losing 2-0 in the final, it seemed that Pirates would fail again. But this match would have been even more painful because it was a derby where not only three points but also the right to national pride were at stake.
Chiefs demonstrated energetic play in the first half, despite an early miss by Vandile Duba and a goal by Pirates scored by Yanela Mbutuma. In fact, they created their own luck when Pule Mmodi scored after Sifo Chain failed to make a save.
Chiefs had many chances to finish the game in the first half by using spaces through timely runs, which was partly related to Waddu's mistaken system, which included using Dion Hotto on the right flank instead of his preferred position as a left-back.
The Pirates' midfield was also practically empty, and Lebohang Maboe and Sibongiseni Mtethwa easily controlled the game. But despite their dominance, Chiefs could not convert their chances, and the teams went to halftime with a score of 1-1.
The first half showed that Pirates are not yet fully tuned, and their young players must develop composure to deliver results in tense matches if they want to remain a dominant force.
However, Waddu seems to have instilled a kind of fighting spirit in this team, even when they find themselves in a difficult situation. Pirates demonstrated this in the second half, taking the lead thanks to Tshepangu Moremi.
Waddu might have thought they overcame difficulties by fielding Mteteleli Mtyana and Mpho Padime in the derby debut. The former seemed to accelerate the aging of the experienced coach, losing possession not once, but several times. Meanwhile, Padime proved more constructive that day.
It should be noted that Waddu looked disappointed not just because his team was not playing well, but also because Chiefs were making it easier for Pirates and were ready to attack.
This was largely due to the fact that coach Amahosi Fernando da Cruz did not look his best in the second half. Despite realizing that his team lost intensity in the remaining 30 minutes, he still refrained from tactical substitutions until the 75th minute.
This decision not only revealed a lack of Plan B but also hinted at an unwillingness to take risks, especially in a derby where the difference in score matters little compared to the result: win, draw, or loss.
Overall, Pirates won, and Waddu enjoyed the moment with the players and fans after the final whistle, demonstrating some graceful dance moves. This was a reward for a hard-fought victory, even if the performance also showed that his team still has a long way to go.
