“We Could Have Scored Three More” – Ouaddou Raises the Bar After Pirates’ Win
Orlando Pirates may have walked away with all three points on Saturday night, but head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou believes his side left goals on the table despite a convincing 2–0 win over Magesi FC in the Betway Premiership.
Speaking after the match at a sold-out Orlando Amstel Arena in Soweto, Ouaddou delivered a clear message: the result was important, but the performance could – and should – have been more ruthless.
“I think we created a lot of chances, especially in the first half and second half,” Ouaddou said. “We really wanted to win this game, especially our first game of the year in front of our fans. If I have to be a little bit tough, maybe we could have been more efficient in the last third – with maybe three more goals at least.”
The Buccaneers secured their first league win of 2026 thanks to early and decisive strikes from Yanela Mbuthuma and Relebohile Mofokeng. Mbuthuma opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a close-range finish, before Mofokeng doubled the advantage in the 41st minute with a well-placed effort from just outside the box.
Beyond the scoreline, the result carried significant weight in the Betway Premiership title race. Pirates’ 10th league win of the season after 14 matches lifted them to 32 points – level with Mamelodi Sundowns – while crucially still holding a game in hand.
Ouaddou’s comments suggest that Pirates are not satisfied with merely winning, but are already looking to sharpen their edge as the season enters a demanding phase.
Orlando Pirates vs Magesi FC (Image: @orlandopirates)
Attention now turns quickly to Tuesday night’s clash against AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. With momentum on their side, Pirates have an opportunity to apply even more pressure at the top of the table, but the coach’s post-match assessment hints at higher expectations as fixtures come thick and fast.
For Magesi FC, the weekend defeat confirmed another difficult chapter in their campaign. Bottom of the Betway Premiership standings with just two wins from 15 matches, the Limpopo outfit will hope for a change of fortunes away from league action.
Their focus now shifts to the Nedbank Cup, where they face Upington City in a round of 32 encounter at the Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium on Saturday – a fixture that offers a chance for reset and redemption.
As the dust settles from the weekend’s action, Pirates’ win may already be in the history books, but Ouaddou’s words have set the tone for what lies ahead: improvement demanded, standards raised, and no room for complacency as the title race tightens.