CONTINENTAL
Smiso Msomi|Published
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has urged his team to dream of winning a second CAF Champions League title after the Buccaneers secured their return to the group stages.
Pirates booked their place among Africa’s elite with a convincing 4-0 victory over African Stars at Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday, completing a 5-0 aggregate win after taking a narrow advantage into the second leg.
For Ouaddou, qualification represents an important milestone after the disappointment of last season, when Pirates failed to progress through the preliminary rounds.
“I think it’s a big challenge for us, for me as well after what happened last season, after we couldn’t reach the group stages, this is a gift for our fans,” he said.
The Moroccan coach believes the Buccaneers must now shift their focus from qualification to making a meaningful impact in the competition, with the ultimate ambition of adding another continental crown to the club’s history.
Pirates won their maiden CAF Champions League title in 1995, and Ouaddou is daring his players to believe they can bring home a second star.
“Now we have to be ambitious, to try and go far (in the competition), why not? We have to dream big if you want to achieve something. Like I said to the guys, let’s dream big, can we not bring back the second second star if we work hard, remain professional, I think anything is possible in football.”
The coach’s comments set an ambitious tone for Pirates’ group-stage campaign, although the road to continental glory will demand consistency against some of Africa’s strongest clubs.
The Buccaneers will need to build on the confidence gained from their emphatic victory over African Stars, while balancing their continental ambitions with domestic commitments.
Their immediate focus shifts to the Carling Knockout Cup, where they face Milford FC on Tuesday. The quick turnaround will test the squad’s depth as Ouaddou looks to keep Pirates competitive across multiple competitions.
For the coach, however, qualification is more than just a box ticked. It is an opportunity to reconnect the club with the competition he believes its history and stature demand.
Pirates now have the platform to pursue that ambition. Whether they can turn Ouaddou’s dream of a second star into reality will depend on how they perform when the group-stage challenge begins.
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