Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has questioned his side for the final 15 minutes, saying they need to be ambitious as he’s not here to ‘play circus.’
Pirates got revenge of the reigning champions of the Carling Knockout Magesi – who eliminated them out the competition last season in one of the shock results of the season.
However, Ouaddou was not satisfied with the 2-1 scoreline, as Pirates created a host of chances, and conceded with the last kick of the game at Orlando Stadium.
He also questioned the lack of ambition to score more goals, with the players looking to entertain the crowd towards the latter stages of the encounter a rainy eSgodini.
“We started the game like we planned with high intensity, we wanted to score early with pressure on the opponent, the boys did fantastic in terms of football and what we wanted to execute today,” Ouaddou said.
“We had many chances, we could have had five goals at half time which is a positive point and I want to congratulate my boys for that, it was important to take this victory and go to the next stage – which we have done.
“Now my big disappointment is the last 15 minutes, it’s my first time I will address that, if we want to be more ambitious and want to move forward, we have to stop this nonsense of playing sterile possession and to enjoy playing small passes.
“If we want to do this, we have to go to the circus, I’m not here to go to the circus or play circus, i’m here to improve my players to go forward and we have to stop this nonsense, because in the end we concede a goal and our target [was a clean sheet], and to score more goals. So we need to improve on that if we want to be more ambitious.”
Respecting SA football culture?
Ouaddou then insisted he respects SA culture and showboating, but for him tricks and passes need to be done with the purpose of moving forward and not just to entertain.
“I’m respecting the culture and traditions, in a fantastic country who love football, it’s a land of football; South Africa, but we need to find the right balance between doing our job to score goals, it’s okay in a cup game, but in the league every goal is important,” Ouaddou added.
“So for me – as long as you make passes, you can make 20-30 passes, to make the show, I’m happy for that, I was a footballer as well and I like the show. But to go forward and finish the action. But if you stay in the same possession, the same place with 30 passes in five square meters, it’s not interesting
Pirates join Richards Bay and Golden Arrows as the three confirmed finalists, while Stellenbosch take on Marumo Gallants on Thursday.