Ouaddou Cryptic on Maswanganyi as Pirates Explain Moremi Absence
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has shed some light on Tshepang Moremi’s absence against Sekhukhune United, but his comments about Patrick Maswanganyi have only deepened the mystery surrounding the midfielder.
Both players were missing from the Pirates squad that secured a 1-0 victory over Sekhukhune in the first leg of their MTN8 semi-final on Saturday.
While Ouaddou was able to explain Moremi’s absence, he remained tight-lipped about Maswanganyi, confirming only that the midfielder was not injured.
Why Tshepang Moremi Missed the Pirates Match
Moremi was left out after picking up a minor injury in Pirates’ previous match.
Ouaddou said the club decided against taking any risks with the player, opting to protect him from aggravating the problem.
“Moremi picked up an injury in the last match, so we wanted to protect him,” Ouaddou said.
The coach added that the club hopes Moremi will recover in time to feature in the next meeting with Sekhukhune.
His absence therefore appears to be precautionary rather than a long term concern, although his availability will depend on his recovery.
Ouaddou Gives Cryptic Response on Patrick Maswanganyi
The situation surrounding Maswanganyi is far less straightforward.
When asked about the midfielder, Ouaddou confirmed that he was not injured and had been around the squad, but stopped short of explaining why he was not selected.
“Regarding the other player, I cannot say much about the matter. He is not injured,” he said.
“He was around, but I can’t speak about something I don’t fully know about.”
The unusual response is likely to fuel further speculation about Maswanganyi’s situation at Pirates.
Rather than dismissing concerns over his absence, Ouaddou’s comments have left questions hanging over the player at a time when his future is already the subject of attention.
Maswanganyi Linked With Move to Bahrain
Maswanganyi’s omission comes amid reports linking the player with a possible move to an unnamed club in Bahrain.
No details of a potential transfer have been confirmed, and neither the player nor Orlando Pirates has publicly provided a full explanation for the speculation.
That makes the midfielder’s absence from such an important MTN8 fixture particularly noteworthy.
Pirates were able to take control of the semi-final tie thanks to a narrow 1-0 win, but attention has now shifted towards the players who were missing from the matchday squad.
For Moremi, the explanation appears straightforward: an injury prompted Pirates to take a cautious approach.
For Maswanganyi, however, the uncertainty remains.
Questions Remain Ahead of the Next Sekhukhune Clash
With the return fixture still to come, Pirates will hope to have as many of their key players available as possible.
Moremi’s recovery will be closely monitored, while Maswanganyi’s situation could attract even greater attention if questions surrounding his future continue to grow.
For now, Ouaddou has offered no definitive explanation for the midfielder’s absence.
His admission that Maswanganyi was not injured but that he could not discuss a situation he did not fully understand has left the door open to further speculation.
The coming days could therefore reveal whether Maswanganyi’s omission was a one-off selection decision or part of a bigger development at Orlando Pirates.
