Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has paid a generous tribute to Kaizer Chiefs and their technical team, while hailing the occasion as a showcase for South African football.
Speaking after the match, Ouaddou kept his focus on the task at hand, refusing to blur the lines between competitions and stressing that Pirates will continue to take things one game at a time.
“Look – I think we don’t have to mix the things, you know. Champions League is Champions League, the league is the league, and we focus game by game,” Ouaddou said.
The Pirates boss then turned his attention to Chiefs, whom he watched closely from the outside. His verdict was complimentary: he believes Fernando da Cruz and his technical team are doing an excellent job and deserve patience as they implement their game model.
“What I can tell you; seeing the game from outside, this technical team of Kaizer Chiefs are doing a great job, we must let them work, implement their game model, this Chiefs has a good team with young players.”
Perhaps most notably, Ouaddou insisted that Chiefs should not be dismissed as contenders. Coming from the coach of their fiercest rivals, the message carries extra weight as the race at the top of the table unfolds.
“I think they are on the right path, we don’t need to write them out from the title race – this is a big club, this is a big club with big fans, and this technical team is doing a great job.
“Both teams had their half; they had the first half to kill the game and in the second half was us. It was a Champions League game and well done for the organisers, I’m very proud to see such an event in South Africa. A model that African countries must watch.”
Pirates now turn their attention back to the Carling Knockout Cup where they face Sekhukhune United on Friday at the Orlando Amstel Arena.