CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Smiso Msomi|Published
Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou believes mental strength could be the missing ingredient in the Buccaneers’ quest to challenge for the CAF Champions League title.
Despite securing their place in the group stage with a 4-0 aggregate victory over African Stars, Ouaddou believes his young squad still needs to learn how to handle the pressure that comes with representing one of South Africa’s biggest clubs.
Pirates beat the Namibian side 3-0 in the second leg at Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday, but the coach believes the contrast between the team’s first- and second-half performances highlighted an area that needs attention.
Ouaddou pointed to the number of new players in his squad and the emotional demands of playing for Pirates as factors that could influence performances, particularly in high-stakes continental matches.
"In the PSL, I have one of the youngest teams. Today you saw about ten new players, and it’s not easy to integrate them into a big club like Orlando Pirates. You can be a good player elsewhere, but when you come here, we have to manage the big factor of emotions because there’s a lot of pressure," he explained.
For Ouaddou, technical quality alone will not be enough if Pirates are to compete with Africa’s established heavyweights. The coach believes helping his players manage expectations and the intensity of major matches is just as important as improving their football.
"I have good players, of course there’s always a march towards progression, but where we really have to help them is mentally. It’s helping them understand how they can manage the pressure and these types of games. If you look at the differences between the first and second half, it’s the same players but different performances."
The comments suggest Ouaddou sees the challenge as one of development rather than a lack of ability. With a relatively young group and several new faces still adapting to the club, he wants his players to become more consistent when the pressure rises.
The Pirates coach even joked that the club might need specialist support to help the squad develop that side of its game.
"I hope I can help them as a coach, but maybe we may need a sports psychologist to go a little bit deeper because I’m not a psychologist," he chuckled.
Pirates’ qualification for the group stage gives them the opportunity to measure themselves against stronger continental opposition. It will also test whether the lessons Ouaddou wants his players to learn can translate into performances against Africa's leading clubs.
For a team with ambitions of adding a second CAF Champions League title to the one won in 1995, the coach believes managing the pressure could prove just as important as the quality on the pitch.