As Orlando Pirates draw the curtain on their pre-season tour, head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has warmly commended forward Yanela Mbuthuma for his standout performance. The Bucs capped their four-match stint with a commendable 2-0 victory over Spanish La Liga side Granada, which may well be described as the highlight of their pre-season preparation.
Prior to this triumph, Orlando Pirates faced a series of challenges, suffering a 2-0 defeat to Bolton and managing a 1-1 draw against Pafos, followed by a goalless stalemate with Los Palmas. However, the team’s resilience appeared to culminate in their final match, where they showcased their potential against a more established opponent.
Speaking to SuperSport TV after the match against Granada, Coach Ouaddou specifically highlighted the contributions of 23-year-old Mbuthuma, noting his impressive adherence to tactical instructions. “Pressing is one of the instructions of the defensive formation when we are defending,” Ouaddou stated. “He (Mbuthuma) did a great job in terms of pressing, that is what we asked him. His job was to stop the relationship between the central defender and the goalkeeper.”
This strategic pressing not only disrupted Granada’s flow but also aimed to force errors in their build-up play. Ouaddou explained that the intention behind their pressing game was to recover possession on the flanks, a tactic that yielded positive results in the first half of the match.
As the Pirates transition into the new season, Ouaddou remains optimistic about the team’s trajectory under his management. “I think we achieved that, we had many chances, now we have to improve in the box to be more clinical, and we can win the game,” he asserted. The coach is visibly pleased with the progress the squad has made, observing that “step by step, [the team] is starting to understand a bit better exactly the expectation” he has set. “So I am happy,” he concluded.
With the new season fast approaching, the Pirates and their supporters will be looking to maintain the momentum gained from this pre-season tour as they strive for success in the upcoming fixtures.