Moroccan coach sends a message to Orlando Pirates

Soweto giants Orlando Pirates will face Marumo Gallants in the Nedbank Cup final semifinals. What does Gallants’ coach Abdeslam Ouaddou make of the draw?

Abdeslam Ouaddou Orlando Pirates Gallants

Abdeslam Ouaddou reacts to facing Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup. Image: Kingfut

Orlando Pirates will host Marumo Gallants in the Nedbank Cup final four in Soweto.

MARUMO GALLANTS COACH ON ORLANDO PIRATES CLASH

According to Ouaddou, his players were disappointed to draw the Sea Robbers away in Soweto but will nevertheless focus on competing for another surprise win after defeating Orlando Pirates 2-0 in the league on 1 March in Bloemfontein.

“I think my players were disappointed, not about the draw, not because we were drawn against Pirates, but they wanted to play at home,” said Ouaddou via FARPost. “That’s why they were disappointed. But there are no easy games. We will play outside [away from home]. We will try to make a surprise again or to surprise people again.”

“I’d like to stop them [from winning three-peat],” he added. “But this is football. I can promise you that we will prepare well and try to give a very good show for the fans most importantly.

“We will try to go and win that game because when you play or reach the semifinals, the goal is to go to the final. We will give everything and give them a hard time as well,” the former Morocco international concluded.

JOSE RIVEIRO REFLECTS ON THE WIN OVER SUPERSPORT UNITED

Orlando Pirates have moved closer to another Nedbank Cup final, thanks to Saturday’s thrilling win over SuperSport United in Polokwane, but it was not comfortable.

Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s opener was cancelled out by Terence Djzukamanja’s equaliser before Evidence Makgopa restored the lead on the stroke of halftime. Just when Orlando Pirates thought they had the win in the bag, Gape Moralo grabbed the second equaliser in the 93rd minute to take the game to extra time and penalties.

“We were wrong in our positioning in the last minutes. We allowed them to have contact on the ball,” said Riveiro via FARPost. ‘Players like Bradley [Grobler], like [Vincent] Pule and Christian [Saile] in the areas close to our box. In the end, they punished us,” he added.

SIPHO CHAINE SAVES ORLANDO PIRATES

The resultant penalty shootout paved the way for Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Chaine to save Vincent Pule and Christian Saile’s attempts.

“It’s one of the possibilities in a knockout game, there’s only two possible results in these types of games, if you can not make it in the 120 minutes, you have to go to penalties and do your best,” Riveiro said via iDiski Times. “We did good job in that space, and again happy to be in the semi-finals.

“It’s his role in the penalty shoot out, he has to stay there between the posts and try to catch at least one more than the opponent, he’s been doing well in that scenario in recent occasions in penalties. Today again he did an excellent job, together with the analysis department, with the goalkeeper coach, with everyone in that space, helping him to do the right decisions.”

Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs joined Orlando Pirates in the final four, while Marumo Gallants are set to face Durban City. Mamelodi Sundowns’ clash with Sekhukhune United was cancelled subject to a new date.