Sbangani Zulu of Orlando Pirates challenges Scelo Masilela of Milford FC during the Carling Knockout Cup Last 16 match. The picture paints one of the duels that left Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou fuming and blaming his players for coming out second best most of the time.

Image: BackpagePix

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou was pleased to reach the Carling Knockout Cup semi-finals but made it clear that his side’s performance against Milford FC fell well below his expectations.

The Buccaneers secured qualification with a 3-0 victory over the top-flight debutants, but the scoreline did little to convince Ouaddou that his team had delivered the performance expected of a club chasing silverware on multiple fronts.

“It’s a game that could’ve finished with eight goals, so if you ask me, yes, I’m happy for the qualification,” he said.

“But for the contents (of the match), for a big club like Pirates, we should be doing better.”

Ouaddou’s frustration stemmed from the gap between Pirates’ ambitions and what he witnessed on the pitch, with the coach demanding higher standards as the Soweto giants pursue success in four competitions this season.

The Buccaneers are targeting the Betway Premiership, the Nedbank Cup, the Carling Knockout Cup and the CAF Champions League, leaving little room for complacency if they are to turn their ambitions into tangible success.

“For a club that’s looking to win the Champions League, the Betway Premiership, the Nedbank Cup and the Carling Knockout Cup, it’s not enough,” he added.

The Pirates coach was particularly unhappy with his team’s inability to dominate individual battles despite creating numerous opportunities to put the tie beyond Milford’s reach.

“We were beaten in the duels, we created 24 chances but we scored three goals. Can I be satisfied? No,” Ouaddou said.

“So I think we need to wake up, we need to know that we’re playing for a big club. We’re not here to nurse people, Pirates is a giant in Africa.”

Pirates are shredding Milford's defence in Orlando ☠️🔥 📺 Stream #CarlingKnockoutCup on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc https://t.co/i8iItPx5Y9

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 27, 2026

His comments reflected a clear message to his players that qualification alone would not be enough to satisfy the demands of a club with Pirates’ history and continental standing.

Although Milford deserve credit for remaining competitive and giving themselves opportunities to stay in the contest, Ouaddou believes Pirates must be more ruthless when facing opponents they are expected to overcome comfortably.

The coach was respectful of Milford and their technical team, but insisted that his players needed to establish a greater gulf in class rather than allow the opposition to believe they could produce an upset.

☠️ FT | @orlandopirates 3 - 0 Milford FC 🥅 Mokobodi 15', Moremi 34', 45+2' ⚫⚪🔴⭐ #MatchDay #OrlandoPirates #OnceAlways https://t.co/9v6rYGVecr

— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) October 27, 2026

“If we have to put eight past Milford, then we must show that we’re not on the same level,” he said.

“I respect Milford and their coach, but if you leave room for these teams to have hope, I don’t want people to leave the Arena and saying Pirates is just a name.”

The challenge for Ouaddou now is to ensure that his team translates its attacking promise into more convincing performances as the campaign progresses.

While the victory keeps Pirates’ Carling Knockout Cup ambitions alive, the coach’s reaction suggests that the result will count for little if the Buccaneers fail to meet the standards required to compete for the major honours on offer this season.