Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has taken a swipe at the side’s former players and legends for how they have criticised him saying he is not what they are making him out to be.
The coach has come out clear and hard about showboating even threatening to leave if players continued with it during games.
The sentiment was met with mix reactions with some pundits agreeing with him that showboating has no place in the professional game while others felt he is restricting players from expressing themselves while others suggested it’s part of the South African identity.
Speaking after Pirates’ 2-0 win over Marumo Gallants in the league in Rustenburg in a press conference carried on PrimeSportsWithMahlatse, Ouaddou said the legends have to understand he has targets and he doesn’t think he’s above other.
“I heard some ex coaches from Pirates, some let’s say “legends” saying that coach Ouaddou cannot come here to teach us football,” said Ouaddou.
“I don’t teach football to nobody. I’m very humble. I respect the culture. I respect this fantastic country. I like it. I love it. I love South Africa. I love these people.
“But these people who were ex-coaches, they have to understand that I am here for a mandate. I am here to get results. I am here to take the best for my team and to win games.”
The coach went on to further say instead of criticizing from the sidelines, the legends could consider being helpful. The Moroccan added that he doesn’t believe if the legends were in his shoes they’d find it as easy.
“There is difference between skills to play forward, to score goals, to be efficient, and entertainment,” added the coach.
“Entertainment is not for me, so I think they have to be careful because we have to work together. You know these ex-legends that they think they are working with us; they have to work with us.
“They have to help the coach. They have to help the team, and not speaking on the side like that because it doesn’t help the team.
“It’s easy to speak and they can come; I am happy to bring them these ex-legends. They can come to have one week of training. I’m happy to see what they are going to do.
“I give them the whistle. I can give them the tracksuit and come on the bench, and we are going to see if it’s easy for them. But they cannot speak like that.”
Did you know that the iDiski Times Digital Newspaper is completely free! Download it now by clicking the button below or fill in the form to have it sent to you every week.