Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has urged for calm and patience over emerging talent Camren Dansin after his Man of the Match display in the 2026/27 season opener.
Dansin, 21, featured 16 times for the first team last season after his promotion from the DStv Diski Challenge squad and won the Betway Premiership Goal of the Season award for his stunner against Mamelodi Sundowns.
It appears a more prominent role could be forthcoming under Ouaddou, after starting alongside Thalente Mbatha in the 2-0 win over Milford where he produced a tidy display over the 90 minutes, with 36 out of 40 passes completed, two chances created and 10 defensive contributions, winning 10 ground duels.
It was an energetic display against the Premiership newcomers, but Ouaddou feels expectations should be tempered as well as hype in the media and outside the corridors of the Sea Robbers.
“We have to be very careful, I have been in the business for a while but the boy is doing well – we took time to bring this young talent in, you remember last season, I didn’t hesitate to put him in a very big game against Sundowns, and he scored a fantastic goal,” Ouaadou said.
“He was with us in most game, we have detected the talent, but you don’t have to burn this talent, it’s step by step, people didn’t understand why it took so much time to bring him, but we knew what we were doing.
“At this same time, I want to be very cautious about the media, about us, not to put this boy quickly high [on a pedestal] because a career is long, he’s doing well, and we’ll give him all our trust, all our help to bring him to the high level.
“The boy still needs a lot of work to get to the highest level but at the moment he is doing very well. Dansin will meet a lot of humility – not to listen to what people say outside the environment [at the club] because he can quickly lose himself and we’re here to help him.
“He must just put in the work, and focus on his career, be serious, humble and I think the things will go well. All the coaches, the club and you as media to protect this talent.”