“I have significant work to tackle,” Ouaddou acknowledged regarding his team’s performance.

His remarks came after a challenging outing for the Pirates, who needed to fight hard for a victory against Sekhukhune United in their Carling Knockout Cup quarter-final at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday.

A first-half strike from Mpho Padime secured a narrow 1–0 win for the Sea Robbers, propelling them into the semi-finals as they look to defend their title after capturing the trophy last season as part of a remarkable treble.

“It’s common when you face the same team four times consecutively,” Ouaddou noted.

“They can’t just take it easy. We started the match on the right foot, implementing precisely what we wanted, moving the team block from side to side.

“We anticipated some openings between the lines and created several chances in the first half, though we only converted one. I believe our opponents also had an opportunity to score during that period.

“We were fortunate to leave with just one goal. We attempted to make some tweaks in the second half, particularly defensively, as we were a bit scattered. We could have conceded twice due to poor communication, lack of aggression, and insufficient cover.

“We sought to adjust this tactical aspect. In the second half, we aimed to manipulate the space, as they were compact in our six and eight positions. Therefore, we focused on outmaneuvering their midfielders to open up space.

“In the second half, we managed our approach effectively and could have potentially scored three or four goals if we had been more clinical, but that did not happen.

“Kudos to the boys. The most crucial thing was to advance to the next stage. Congratulations on the goal and for keeping another clean sheet.

“But once again, I have significant work ahead.”

Pirates will join Mamelodi Sundowns in the semi-finals after Sundowns secured their place during the week. The quarter-final round wraps up on Sunday, with Stellenbosch set to host AmaZulu at Danie Craven Stadium and Kaizer Chiefs facing Siwelele at Peter Mokaba Stadium. The draw for the semi-finals will take place immediately after those matches.