Orlando Pirates Coach Abdeslam Waddu Predicts Bright Future for Soweto Derby Hero Tapelo Mokobodi

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.

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdelslam Waddu believes that Kaizer Chiefs is moving in the right direction under the guidance of its current technical team and called on the club to give them time to implement their football philosophy.

Despite leading Pirates to a 2-1 victory in the Soweto Derby at FNB Stadium on Saturday, the French-Moroccan expressed admiration for the work being done by his French colleague Fernando da Cruz at Naturena FC.

Waddu believes that Chiefs has assembled a talented squad, especially among young players, and insists that they should not be excluded from the Betway Premiership title race.

He stated: 'Watching the game from the outside, this Kaizer Chiefs technical team is doing excellent work. We must allow them to work and implement their playing model.' He continued: 'These guys at Chiefs have a very good team with very good young players, and in my opinion, they are on the right track, and we do not need to exclude them from the title race. It is a big club with big fans, and this technical team is doing an excellent job.'

Waddu's comments offer an interesting perspective from a rival coach, especially after Pirates secured a victory in one of the most intense matches of the national calendar.

'Chiefs' showed glimpses of their attacking potential in the first half of the match, creating several chances and possibly having enough opportunities to take a convincing lead before halftime. However, the inability to capitalize on these opportunities allowed Pirates to stay in the game before Thsepang Moremi scored the decisive goal in the 55th minute.

The task for Chiefs now is to turn these encouraging spells into consistent performances and results as they strive to close the gap on the leading teams. Meanwhile, Waddu believes that Chiefs possesses enough quality in its squad and coaching structure to remain in the title conversation.

The coach of Orlando Pirates, Abdelslam Wadee, strongly urged his players to strive for the second CAF Champions League title after 'Bucaneers' secured qualification for the group stage.

The team established itself among Africa's elite by achieving a convincing 4-0 victory over 'African Stars' at the Orlando Amstel Arena stadium on Friday. This win completed a cumulative score of 5-0, as the team had previously held a slight advantage in the second match.

For Wadee, this qualification for the group stage is a significant achievement, especially following the disappointment of last season when Pirates failed to pass the preliminary rounds.

He noted: 'I think this is a big challenge for us, and for me, after what happened last season, after we couldn't make it to the group stage, this is a gift for our fans.'

The Moroccan coach believes that now 'Bucaneers' must shift focus from qualification to making a substantial impact in the tournament, aiming for the ultimate goal—adding another continental crown to the club's history.

Pirates won the CAF Champions League title for the first time in 1995, and Wadee encourages his footballers to believe in the possibility of winning a second star.

He stated: 'Now we must be ambitious, try to go far (in the tournament), why not? We must dream big if we want to achieve anything. As I told the guys, let's dream big; can't we bring back the second star if we work hard and remain professionals? I think everything is possible in football.'

The coach's comments set an ambitious tone for Pirates' campaign in the group stage, although the path to continental greatness will require consistency against some of Africa's strongest clubs.

'Bucaneers' must leverage the confidence gained from the impressive victory over 'African Stars' while balancing their continental ambitions with domestic obligations. Their immediate focus shifts to the Carlinng-Naikdaut Cup, where they face 'Milford FC' on Tuesday. The quick succession of matches will test the depth of the squad as Wadee strives to maintain Pirates' competitiveness across multiple competitions.

Nevertheless, for the coach, qualification is more than just a task completed. It is a chance to restore the club's connection to a competition that, in his view, demands its history and status. Pirates now have a platform to realize this ambition. Whether they can turn Wadee's dream of a second star into reality will depend on their performance when the group stage challenge begins.