Ouaddou Takes Full Blame After Pirates Survive Chiefs Scare to Win Soweto Derby
Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou took complete responsibility for a chaotic first half after his side edged Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in a sold-out Soweto Derby at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Despite the win that moved the Buccaneers to the top of the Betway Premiership for a while, Ouaddou was brutally honest in his post-match assessment, admitting his own tactical decisions nearly cost his team the result.
“I think we planned something in the first half, maybe a few surprises, but this one I will take,” Ouaddou said. “For once I will not blame my players. The one we have to blame for the first half is the coach.
“I got it wrong. I tried to surprise the opponent with some tactical choices that were not spot on. Coach Ouaddou put his team in trouble. I could have cost the game, but thank God we went into half-time at 1-1.”
Ouaddou was referring to starting Pirates’ work horse Deon Hotto as a right back instead of his regular left back position.
He went further, acknowledging that Chiefs were the better side early on and should have punished Pirates more heavily.
“Kaizer Chiefs had the opportunity to kill the game in the first half. Definitely, they could have easily come with maybe 3-1 at half-time,” he admitted.
“They didn’t take that opportunity, and when you don’t take the chance to kill the game, you give the opponent the chance to adjust. We came in the second half and we killed them.”
Chiefs dominated the opening stages and created several clear chances. Pirates, however, struck first in the 24th minute when Yanela Mbuthuma’s effort took a deflection off Thabo Moloisane and looped past Brandon Petersen.
The lead lasted just six minutes. Sipho Chaine spilled a cross, and Pule Mmodi equalised for Chiefs in the 30th minute. The teams went into the break level at 1-1.
Ouaddou made adjustments at half-time, including changes in personnel and positioning. Hotto was reverted back to the left, with Gamphani Lungu coming on in the right back position, replacing Nkosikhona Ndaba.
The impact was immediate. Ten minutes into the second half, Thapelo Mokobodi broke forward and set up Tshepang Moremi for a simple finish that restored Pirates’ lead.
Chiefs finished the match with 10 men after captain Inacio Miguel received a second yellow card deep in stoppage time. Pirates held on for a vital three points and the derby bragging rights.
In a sport where coaches often deflect blame, Ouaddou’s willingness to shoulder full responsibility for the first-half struggles drew attention.
He described the second half as “spot on” after the tactical corrections, praising his players for their response while refusing to hide behind the result.
The victory keeps Pirates unbeaten in the league and strengthens their title defence. For Chiefs, it was their first league defeat of the season under Fernando da Cruz.
