Why Ouaddou believes FIFA break came at the perfect time for Pirates
Orlando Pirates coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou is not scared of the pause. He is grateful for it.
After Pirates beat Marumo Gallants 2-0 at Royal Bafokeng on Sunday, the Bucs coach said the FIFA international break has arrived exactly when his squad needed it.
Five straight league wins. One point behind Mamelodi Sundowns. One goal conceded in seven league games. And a calendar that has been brutal.
“To be honest, we’ve been playing almost every three days for two months,” Ouaddou said. “In a periodisation, you need a moment of regeneration. It is very important.
“You cannot push the players until you break them. We asked a lot of them — physically and in concentration. The game plan, different opponents, adapting in training. People don’t understand how difficult that is for the players.
“This FIFA break came at the right time for physiological regeneration. Rest, then come back stronger. I don’t think it will break our momentum. It is necessary.”
That is the first cycle, as he calls it: from 24 June to this break. Pirates finished it with 19 points from seven league matches, unbeaten in 11 across all competitions. And Ouaddou is now sitting on a club-record 20-game unbeaten run in the PSL. He wants them to stay a “points machine” when they return.
The next test is not a league grind. It is the MTN8 final against Sundowns on 10 October, then TS Galaxy in the Premiership on 18 October.
Ouaddou’s message is simple: the boys did the first cycle. Give them the rest. Then keep the consistency.
