Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is demanding a mental reset as Orlando Pirates look to bounce back from a nightmare week. Photo: Itumeleng English Independent Media Orlando Pirates face the sternest test of their “bouncebackability” this weekend when they face arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto Derby at the FNB Stadium. The discerning Buccaneers follower will contend that his club has already proven they have the capacity to recover from an upset.
They point to that brilliant run of 11 successive wins that came straight after back-to-back defeats to Marumo Gallants and Sekhukhune United at the beginning of Abdeslam Ouaddou’s reign. The Moroccan was careful not to refer to that period as an indication of what is to come from his team following a week that will go down in his story as an episode best forgotten. Successive losses against Mamelodi Sundowns and Casric Stars have not only ended Pirates’ hopes of a domestic clean sweep of titles, but they have also cast a shadow of doubt on their championship hopes.
Though he backed his team to bounce back, Ouaddou refused to use that previous recovery as definitive proof they will return to winning ways following their elimination from the Nedbank Cup via a 5-4 penalty shoot-out defeat by Stars. “I don’t know if I have to take the references, because when you take games that have been lost as a reference it will be difficult,” the former Fulham defender said during the post-match conference at Orlando Stadium. “I think we will have to find other tools to bounce back.
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It is very important to bring back the confidence for the players to continue to perform and play on.” To that effect, Ouaddou has reminded his players that the season is still very long and that the championship title race remains wide open. They are still in control, sitting as they do atop the Betway Premiership table. “When you have lost, it is very important mentally to wash the brain and give confidence and trust to the players.
It is what we did after Sundowns. There is this game as well that will shock the players a bit, but I will tell them that we still have 13 finals coming. “Nothing is lost regarding the title race.
We are going to find some resources like that. It is a tough week after losing two games.”
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