Pirates Step Up 2026/27 Preparations in Spain as Ouaddou Targets CAF Champions League Improvement
Fresh from one of the most successful campaigns in the club’s history, Orlando Pirates have stepped up preparations for the 2026/27 season at the renowned Marbella Football Center, where head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is laying the foundations for another title challenge.
The Buccaneers are once again based at the elite high-performance facility in southern Spain, marking the fourth consecutive year they have chosen Marbella as their pre-season base.
Ouaddou enjoyed a dream debut season in charge, guiding Pirates to a historic domestic treble after lifting the MTN8, Carling Knockout Cup and Betway Premiership title.
However, one disappointment overshadowed an otherwise memorable campaign.
Pirates’ CAF Champions League journey ended in heartbreaking fashion after they were eliminated by FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo in the second preliminary round.
After losing the first leg 3–0, the Buccaneers produced a spirited comeback to win the return leg by the same scoreline at Orlando Stadium, levelling the aggregate score at 3–3. Their hopes of progressing were ultimately dashed in a penalty shootout, where the Congolese side prevailed 5–4.
That painful exit has provided extra motivation as Pirates look to make a deeper run in Africa this season.
The Bucs squad has undergone several changes ahead of the new campaign, with a number of fresh faces eager to make an immediate impression as competition for places intensifies.
New arrivals Ghampani Lungu, Neo Rapoo and Mthetheleli Mthiyane are all part of the travelling squad in Spain, while academy graduates Cristian Derbyshire, Simphiwe Masilela and Mpho Padime have earned first-team call-ups after playing a key role in guiding the club’s Reserves to the DStv Diski Challenge title.
The blend of experienced campaigners, new signings and emerging academy talent has provided Ouaddou and his technical team with increased depth across every department as they prepare for another demanding season.
Training sessions in Marbella have focused on improving fitness, tactical organisation, pressing structures and team chemistry, while giving the expanded squad valuable time to build understanding ahead of the opening competitive fixtures.
Pirates’ preparations include five friendly matches against Spanish and Saudi Arabian opposition between 15 and 24 July.
The confirmed fixtures are:
15 July: Córdoba CF (Spain’s Segunda División)
18 July: Cádiz CF (Spain’s Segunda División)
21 July: Al-Ittihad Club (Saudi Pro League)
22 July: UD Las Palmas (La Liga)
24 July: NEOM SC
Pirates Step Up 2026/27 Preparations in Spain as Ouaddou Targets CAF Champions League Improvement (Image: Orlando Pirates)
The series of friendlies will provide Ouaddou with an ideal opportunity to assess combinations, fine-tune tactical systems and evaluate players against quality international opposition before the competitive campaign begins.
Pirates will once again compete across multiple fronts during the 2026/27 campaign, including the Betway Premiership, MTN8, Carling Knockout Cup, Nedbank Cup and the CAF Champions League.
Having completed a historic domestic treble last season, expectations have never been higher at the Soweto giants.
While defending their Betway Premiership crown will remain a key objective, Pirates will also be determined to make amends in continental competition after last season’s agonising Champions League exit.
With preparations well underway in Marbella and healthy competition emerging throughout the squad, Ouaddou will be hoping the work being done in Spain lays the platform for another successful campaign both domestically and in Africa.