Ouaddou Not Fully Satisfied Despite Pirates’ 4–1 Cup Nedbank Rout
Orlando Pirates marched confidently into the Nedbank Cup Round of 16 after a commanding 4–1 victory over ABC Motsepe League outfit Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday – but head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou believes the performance could have been even more decisive.
Although listed as the away side, Pirates dominated proceedings from the opening whistle, controlling possession and tempo to underline the gulf in class between the Betway Premiership contenders and their lower-division opponents. The result extended the Buccaneers’ unbeaten run in domestic cup competitions this season and reinforced their status as one of the tournament favourites.
The Soweto giants made an ideal start when Andre de Jong opened the scoring from the penalty spot, marking his first start for the club with a calm and confident finish. Pirates continued to apply pressure and doubled their advantage through Thalente Mbatha, whose long-range effort took a helpful deflection on its way past the goalkeeper.
Tshakhuma briefly gave themselves something to cling to just before halftime, pulling a goal back and heading into the break with renewed belief. However, any hopes of a shock comeback were swiftly extinguished after the restart.
Patrick Maswanganyi restored Pirates’ two-goal cushion in the second half with a composed finish, before Sipho Mbule put the result beyond doubt late in the game, unleashing a powerful strike from distance to cap off an emphatic afternoon for the Buccaneers.
Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou (Image: @orlandopirates/ X)
Despite the convincing scoreline, Ouaddou was measured in his post-match assessment, praising his team’s overall display while highlighting an area that still concerns him.
“I thought that we could have been more efficient in the last third,” Ouaddou said. “I keep saying to my players that if you want to be more ambitious in the future, we need to kill the game in the crucial moments. Of course, we are working on that, but it’s something we must improve.”
The Pirates coach also took time to acknowledge the efforts of Tshakhuma, commending their competitiveness, particularly in the first half.
“I’d like to congratulate the opponent, their coach and the players,” he added. “They did their best in the first half, and I wish them all the best.”
With Kaizer Chiefs already eliminated from the Nedbank Cup, attention now turns to Wednesday’s Round of 16 draw, where Orlando Pirates and reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns will enter as clear favourites to lift South Africa’s premier knockout trophy.
As the competition narrows, Pirates’ blend of depth, control and ambition continues to make them a formidable presence – even if their coach believes there is still another level to reach.