Ouaddou reacts after Pirates draw with Durban City

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou said he had to protect his players against Durban City on Saturday.

May 17, 2026 - 18:00
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Ouaddou reacts after Pirates draw with Durban City

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has reacted to his side’s 0-0 draw with Durban City on Saturday afternoon.

The Buccaneers needed a win to claim the Betway Premiership but fumbled against a very stubborn City defence.

Ouaddou felt his side played well but criticised the aggression of the opposition.

“There is a difference between playing strong with physicality on the ball and to break the players, this is not the mentality and never will be mine, as first an educator, before being a coach,” he told the media.

Ouaddou felt Pirates players were targeted

“We need to protect the players, if someone cannot protect them in the middle of the pitch, then I have to protect them.

“We don’t have to forget that in the stands there’s children.

“We have to be an example, football has to be a bridge, and example, a model for the next generation.”

Ouaddou was seen having a scuffle with the Durban City technical team after Orlando Pirates keeper Sipho Chaine was tackled.

At the time, the referee did not stop the match or penalise the attacker.

“We had a chat with the coach, at the end and everything is okay, he understands me and he just apologised and I congratulated him for the good game they did,” Ouaddou said as per GOAL.

Under Ouaddou, Pirates have won two trophies and just need to win against Orbit College to secure a treble.

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