Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says lessons were learnt last season as he looks to ease the club’s new signings into the starting line-up.
Pirates made no less than nine new signings going into the new season and four made their official debuts in the 2-0 win over Milford, coming on in the second half as they looked to see off the game.
It’s a far cry from last season where wholesale changes were made to the team, leading to back to back defeats in the opening two games and pressure immediately on the new coach as he succeeded Jose Riveiro.
“The new players, you know, even for me, I take lessons; it’s never late to learn. Last season, you can say that I wanted to be in a rush to put new players in the starting XI, and this season I started with more stability in the XI,” he said.
“The new players, we will bring them in after – so I think they bring something, you have seen that in the second half, they bring more energy, more control in the game.
“I think it’s good new for us, for Orlando Pirates, to know these players can help us. But I’m sure in the season, we will see them more and more.”
Pirates now turn their attention to the MTN8, where they will be aiming to defend their title for a fifth successive season – with an opener against Durban City on 8 August at the Orlando Amstel Arena.