Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou values leadership, defensive solidity and continuity in his weekly team selections.

Orlando Pirates keep that winning feeling

Pirates’ narrow 1-0 win over African stars means they’ve only lost once in 15 matches across all competitions this season, winning 12 and drawing the other two. The solitary defeat was to Sundowns in the MTN8 final. With 11 clean sheets in that sample, it’s easy to see why the Buccaneers are so difficult to beat. Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has stressed the importance of dotting leaders throughout the spine of his team, with his goalkeeper setting the tone.

Via IOL:

“You see, in my game model, in the way that I’m coaching, I have always given importance to the whole team, of course, to the players,” said Ouaddou in his post-match press conference.

“But you always need a spine, and the spine is the goalkeeper, the pair of central defenders, the six, the ten and the nine. And I need to have a leader in every line.

“It’s important to have a well-oiled machine. You need to have strategic leaders in every line.”

Chaine’s stats paint a pretty picture

Sipho Chaine claimed nine shutouts in 14 CAF Champions League outings in the 2024-25 campaign. In Pirates’ run to the Betway Premiership crown last term, the 29-year-old claimed 21 clean sheets in 30 matches. Chaine was an ever-present for the Sea Robbers, playing every single minute in the league. It’s no wonder he’s held in such high regard by Ouaddou and his teammates. This season, Chaine has seven shutouts from eight league appearances. Next up for Chaine and his teammates is the second leg of their CAF Champions League qualifier against African stars on Friday, 23 October. After that, it’s the small matter of a Soweto Derby with Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday, 31 October.