Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has explained how his side plans to manage their lack of league-winning experience as they remain firmly in the title race.
The Buccaneers are neck-and-neck with Mamelodi Sundowns, who have dominated the competition with eight consecutive league titles. Both teams sit on 47 points, with Pirates currently ahead on goal difference.
Pirates reclaimed top spot after beating Richards Bay FC 2-0 on Wednesday at Orlando Stadium, moving above Sundowns who had won 2-0 over Orbit College FC on Tuesday.
Ouaddou admitted that experienced players such as Sipho Mbule, who has previously won the league title, will play a key role. He also highlighted the importance of seasoned campaigners like Thabiso Lebitso, who has recently returned from injury.
“When you are playing, that roles [hunger and character] you need both of them, you need character and personality, you need hunger,” said Ouaddou.
“Somebody who doesn’t have hunger everyday, not only in the game everyday in training, you have to show everyday in training that you want to be a champion and you can see it in how you train, how you take care of your lifestyle, how you take care of your body and it starts like that
“And of course to be ambitious you need experience to mix this hunger with some experience. Some guys that lived this moment and they know sometimes how to slow down the game, they know when it starts to be hot, how they can bring the ball on the field, they can communicate with the young players because they lived that experience
“So, definitely I will need some experienced players, I’m happy because some of them are coming back and definitely I will need them and when I speak about experience, I speak about [Thabiso] Lebitso, [Sipho] Mbule. All these guys, maybe I forget some names but they will be very important.”
