"I think credit has to be given to our boys, they responded very well in terms of discipline, in terms of organisation," Ouaddou said.
Abdeslam Ouaddou head coach of Orlando Pirates after the MTN8, semi final 1st Leg match against Sekhukhune United at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday. Photo: Philip Maeta/Gallo Images
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou insists that he was not surprised by Sekhukhune United’s mid-block approach during the first leg of the MTN8 semifinal,
Deon Hotto’s stunner just before the half-time break was enough to give the Buccaneers a 1-0 victory over Babina Noko at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday.
Speaking after the game, Ouaddou said the Buccaneers knew what to expect from Babina Noko in this encounter.
“Definitely, I think we were not surprised, we know this type of game and I think credit has to be given to our boys, they responded very well in terms of discipline, in terms of organisation,” Ouaddou told SuperSport TV.
“Of course, sometimes we lose the ball early, we give them the opportunity to punish us but overall, I’m very happy about the team spirit of the boys.
“We came here to win to take this first victory, but I like to tell you we still have one second half (leg). We’re going to rest the players and maybe in one week we will play the second-leg now we will focus on the league game now.”
Pirates will meet Sekhukhune again in a Betway Premiership at home at the Orlando Stadium on Tuesday, The teams will then play again on Saturday, this time in the second leg of the MTN6 at the same venue.
‘We knew their weaknesses’
Ouaddou said despite taking the lead in the first half, the Buccaneers still wanted to score more goals in the second half in order to put the game beyond Sekhukhune’s reach.
“Yes, you know when you are training such a big club, you have to find the balance between entertainment and discipline and I didn’t want to come here and sit to protect our goal. Our target was to come there and make them press.
“To push them to make mistakes or push them to play long and to recover the ball and the target as well if the first line of pressure was passed it was just to be compact mid-block and to wait for them.
“We knew that they have some weaknesses and we did well, we did well to use those weaknesses, but there is a second half,” concluded Ouaddou.
