Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has warned his players who represented Bafana Bafana at the World Cup that they need to find their rhythm and make their presence felt in the domestic campaign.
The French-Moroccan coach was speaking after Pirates were held to a 1-1 draw by AmaZulu in the Betway Premiership at Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium in Durban on Wednesday night.
Ouaddou believes captain Nkosinathi Sibisi and goalkeeper Sipho Chaine are currently the only Bafana Bafana players in his squad who appear fully fit and are performing their roles effectively.
He feels the others still have work to do to reach their best levels, stressing that time is running out with the season already underway.
Pirates’ World Cup contingent also includes Oswin Appollis and Tshepang Moremi, who played against AmaZulu. Thalente Mbatha and Evidence Makgopa are currently injured, while Relebohile Mofokeng has left the club for an overseas opportunity.
“My worry is when am I going to recover the international players fully fit? Today, I have seen a fantastic game of [Nkosinathi] Sibisi, really he played his role today, Sipho Chaine played his role,” said Ouaddou.
“But since the beginning of the season, I am playing with one or two men down. So, when am I going to recover them? I hope as soon as possible, because there is an emergency.
“You know that every point is very important. We are going to wait for these points at the end of the season. I need quickly my international players to land, let’s say, in our planet, in our hearts.
“The US is finished, and they need quickly to be part of the team spirit, about the expectation of the club, the expectation of the fans because football is very difficult to wait, because if we wait until December to get fit, it will be late.
“So, I really need them to come to the party.”