Abdeslam Ouaddou reveals mental prep drove Orlando Pirates to Soweto derby success

Orlando Pirates’ coach Abdeslam Ouaddou revealed that they held several meetings and video workshops with the team to help them prepare mentally for the Soweto derby, which is why they were the better side on the day.

Pirates outplayed arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 at a sold-out FNB Stadium on Saturday night, resulting in them walking away with the country’s bragging rights and three invaluable points, which returned them to the summit of the Betway Premiership standings with 41 points.

The Sea Robbers steered themselves to the victory with precision and calm. They made use of their chances, scoring the opener early in the fifth minute courtesy of Tshepang Moremi’s deflected effort, before going into the break with their tails up after a quick-fire team-effort resulted in Oswin Appollis extending the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Evidence Makgopa, from the bench, wrapped up the win for the Bucs with a glancing header. This was Pirates’ heaviest victory over Chiefs in 25 years, and their fifth successive win in the derby in the league.

With Pirates having at least five derby debutantes in the starting lineup – Moremi, Appollis, Kamogelo Sebelebele, Lebone Seema and Yanela Mbuthuma – Ouaddou revealed how they calmed their nerves and enhanced them to enjoy the game.

“We spoke to the players in many meetings during the week to try and manage their emotions,” Ouaddou said. “We knew that for most of them, it was their first derby. It was important to work with them mentally.

“We didn’t want them to play the game before, but we wanted them to be calm and deliver. When you have pressure that puts in light all your qualities.”

Ouaddou also opened up on how ‘positive videos’ helped to reignite the team’s confidence, following their setbacks after losing to Mamelodi Sundowns in the league and Casric Stars in the Nedbank Cup last-16.

“We made a lot of WhatsApp this week, showing the positive videos and all the great goals that they scored and games they achieved, including under Jose Riveiro and previous coaches,” Ouaddou said.

“We tried to create a narrative and story, to make this event easier mentally. It was a workshop for us because you can see on the bench that the technical staff was very calm – I think that was the first game that happened.

Ouaddou was so impressed with his team’s performance that he encouraged them to take positives from it going into their last 12 games in the league this season.

“Really, I am proud of them,” Ouaddou said. “So, we have to build on that kind of performance. So, it was a reference performance. So, we have to build on that for the rest of the season.”

*Mihlali Baleka is Independent Media's senior football reporter and a panelist on the group's soccer podcast, The D-Line, which is exclusive on our YouTube channel The Clutch