Cape Town – Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is set for a welcome selection dilemma as several key players move closer to returning from injury.
With his squad slowly rebuilding to full strength, the coach now faces increased competition for places — something he has described as a “good problem” for a team pushing to stay competitive on all fronts.
Pirates’ demanding schedule hasn’t eased, and Ouaddou knows he needs to rotate. “You can’t play [the same] player every three days,” he said, backing his strategy of squad rotation to protect against fatigue and injury.
But while depth gives him options, it also presents a management challenge. Ouaddou has underlined how vital it is to keep harmony in the dressing room, “It’s so crucial to manage so many players … to keep trusting you and giving you everything in the games”, reported SABC Sport.
One key figure on the comeback trail is Makhehleni Makhaula, who has been recovering from a long-term injury. Ouaddou recently updated on his situation:
“Makhaula … came back, but sometimes when you come back after such a long-term injury, you can still feel pain … for now he is only running.”
Despite his return, Ouaddou sounded cautious: Makhaula “will not find it easy to push his way back into the starting line-up,” given how well the rest of the squad is performing.
According to The Star, part of Ouaddou’s confidence in his depth stems from new signings like Oswin Appollis. He’s praised the club’s scouting department for identifying talent that fits their identity, “The quality of players Orlando Pirates have signed is fantastic … everyone will get a chance to play this season.”
Still, Ouaddou admits balancing form, fitness, and egos is no small task. He says managing a large squad goes beyond tactics — it’s about people:
“You need some competencies … to manage the players … so they keep trusting you.”
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Source: AFP
