Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has explained what he believes destabilised Relebohile Mofokeng during their clash against Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Buccaneers suffered a 2–1 defeat to Masandawana in their Betway Premiership encounter at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday night.
Mofokeng was among the players who faced criticism from supporters and analysts for not making a significant impact in the match.
It was a difficult outing for Ezimnyama Ngenkani, who could not assert their usual dominance — something they often display against other opponents in the league.
Ouaddou admitted that tactical adjustments may have affected the young midfielder’s performance.
He revealed that they changed Mofokeng’s position several times during the game, which might have disrupted his rhythm and influence.
“A clever player, he can play two or three positions in the modern football,” said Ouaddou.
“Rele used to play on the side and he did well. We used him in many games as a 10, I said that in my point of view as a coach, he’s very efficient in that position cause he has 360 degrees possibilities to play.
“But if you put him on the side, he has only 160 degrees to play because there’s touchline. But we have to manage the team.
“We have the impact players, sometimes you make combinations and today [against Sundowns], we moved him a lot and, in the game, when a player settle in position and you change him one of few times, sometimes it can destabilise him.
“I think we changed him many times, side, inside and it can destabilise him a little bit.”
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