“Staying There Is the Hardest Part” — Ouaddou’s Warning After Pirates Go Top
Orlando Pirates may have climbed to the top of the Betway Premiership table on Tuesday night, but head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has made it clear that the real test is only just beginning.
Following the Buccaneers’ statement 2-0 win away to AmaZulu in Durban, Ouaddou struck a measured tone in his post-match remarks, celebrating the achievement while immediately shifting focus to the challenge of maintaining their position at the summit – a message that underlines Pirates’ growing maturity in the title race.
Speaking after the final whistle at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Ouaddou expressed satisfaction with his side’s progress but resisted the temptation to get carried away by going top of the log.
“I’m very happy. The journey is continuing, the adventure is continuing. I think we are now first on the log table,” the Pirates coach said.
Rather than framing the moment as a destination, Ouaddou described it as another step in a longer process – language that reflects a squad increasingly focused on consistency rather than celebration.
The Pirates coach was quick to highlight what he believes will ultimately decide the title race: mentality.
“The most difficult now is to keep, is to stay,” Ouaddou explained. “I hope my players will have a strong mental, strong character, strong personality to hold this place and not to leave it.”
Those comments point to a clear awareness within the Pirates camp that reaching the top is one thing, but staying there – especially with Mamelodi Sundowns still firmly in contention – will require resilience, discipline, and emotional control in the weeks ahead.
Ouaddou also revealed that there would be little time for celebration following the win, with attention already turning to Pirates’ next assignment.
“We are going to rest and to focus on the cup game,” he added.
(Image: @orlandopirates/X)
Ouaddou’s side will be back in action in Durban this weekend, as the Buccaneers take on Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila in a Nedbank Cup Round of 32 clash on Saturday, offering another immediate test of their focus and depth.
While the victory itself pushed Orlando Pirates to the top of the Betway Premiership standings – three points clear of Mamelodi Sundowns with a game in hand – Ouaddou’s words may have been just as significant as the result.
They suggest a team that understands the demands of a title challenge and a coach intent on keeping his players grounded as expectations continue to rise.
In a league where pressure has derailed many promising campaigns, Pirates’ message is clear: getting to the top was only the beginning.