“We Faced Jesus Christ in Goal” — Ouaddou Reacts as Pirates Held by Siwelele Despite Dominance
Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou delivered a striking post-match reaction after his side were forced to settle for a 1–1 draw against Bloemfontein Celtic in a Betway Premiership clash on Saturday at the Orlando Stadium.
Despite dominating large portions of the encounter and creating numerous scoring opportunities, the Buccaneers were unable to secure all three points – largely due to an inspired performance from goalkeeper Ricardo Goss.
Pirates began the match with clear attacking intent, controlling possession and pushing forward in search of an early breakthrough. The home side created several promising chances and looked the more dangerous team during the opening exchanges.
However, against the run of play, the visitors struck first. Former Pirates winger Vincent Pule capitalised on an opportunity to put Siwelele ahead, silencing the home crowd with a clinical finish.
The Buccaneers responded positively early in the second half. In the 51st minute, Tshepang Moremi brought Pirates level with a powerful strike after being expertly set up by Thalente Mbatha.
The equaliser reignited Pirates’ momentum, with the home side continuing to pile pressure on the Siwelele defence in search of a winner.
Yet time and again, Goss stood firm between the posts, producing a string of impressive saves that ultimately earned him the Man of the Match award.
Orlando Pirates draw 1-1 against Siwelele in the Betway Premiership (Image: @orlandopirates/ X)
After the match, Ouaddou acknowledged that his team had created enough chances to win but admitted that Goss’ performance proved decisive.
“We have to give credit to the goalkeeper, he was the man of the match,” Ouaddou said.
“We had not a goalkeeper today – we had, if I can say, we had Jesus Christ in the goal today. He saved everything. We have to give him credit.”
The Pirates coach added that his players did everything possible to score, but the opposition goalkeeper consistently denied them.
“They gave everything to shoot on target and create chances, but we had a wall in the goal. I think he saved his team today. He did a fantastic game.”
The result keeps Pirates at the top of the Betway Premiership standings with 48 points from 21 matches.
However, the draw opens the door slightly for defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who sit just one point behind with a game in hand.
For Siwelele, the valuable away point sees them remain in 11th place on the table with 23 points from 20 matches.
While Pirates will feel frustrated after failing to convert their dominance into victory, Ouaddou’s side remains firmly in control of their title challenge as the Betway Premiership season enters a decisive phase.