Sebelebele saving Bucs’ ‘not-so-sure-about-your-name’ coach’s job

FESTIVAL B UNPLUGGED

…With Umgcilati Magama

BELOVED reader, let me take you on a journey through the treacherous waters of Orlando Pirates fandom, where faith is a candle in the storm and patience is as thin as tissue paper during flu season.

Because if there’s one thing South African football supporters have mastered, it is shouting “coach out!” before the poor man even finds the kettle in his new office.

And unfortunately for Abdeslam Ouaddou, yes, I also had to Google him three times to make sure I spelt it right, the Soweto giants’ dugout is proving to be hotter than an Eswatini three-legged pot with beans that have been boiling since 6 am.

Now, Ouaddou might be wearing the title of “Orlando Pirates Head Coach” since June 23, 2025, but let’s not pretend things are rosy.

The Buccaneers kicked off the season with two straight defeats, leaving fans angrier than a commuter who just missed the last kombi.

Banners were already being dusted off, WhatsApp voice notes dripping with fury were being sent, and if you listened carefully, you could almost hear stones being gathered the “Stephen” biblical-style, ready for an Abdeslam sacrifice outside Orlando Stadium.

Orlando Pirates have once again proven their mettle, securing a place in their fourth straight MTN8 final after a tense showdown against Mamelodi Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.

The semifinal second leg ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, levelling the aggregate at 2-2, but the Buccaneers held their nerve to triumph 4-1 in the penalty shootout.

Iqraam Rayners continued his fine form, netting his third goal of the competition, while Kamogelo Sebelebele is steadily carving out a vital role within the team.

Mirroring his equaliser from the first leg, Sebelebele extended his scoring streak to three goals in as many games, proving to be an indispensable piece of the Pirates’ puzzle. With this victory, the Bucs set their sights on clinching an unprecedented fourth consecutive MTN8 title.

Meanwhile, Stellenbosch FC earned its spot in the final with a spirited 3-1 aggregate victory over Sekhukhune United at Peter Mokaba Stadium.

This sets up a thrilling MTN8 final clash between Stellenbosch and Orlando Pirates, a rematch of last year’s dramatic encounter.

The Buccaneers, the reigning champions with three consecutive MTN8 titles under their belt, will be aiming to extend their dominance to four in a row.

Stellenbosch, on the other hand, will be eager to rewrite history and avenge last year’s final, where controversial refereeing by Abongile Tom cast a shadow over the result.

Now back to the Pirates, longer than “Psalm 119” Pirates coach. Every struggling coach has one guardian angel disguised in football boots. A player who saves him from humiliation, and occasionally from unemployment.

For Sir Alex Ferguson, it was Eric Cantona with his kung-fu aura and audacity. For Zinedine Zidane, it was Cristiano Ronaldo, because without CR7’s goals, Zidane’s famous Champions League run might have ended with him just being remembered as “that bald Frenchman who once headbutted someone in a World Cup final.”

For Jose Mourinho, it was Didier Drogba, the man who dragged Chelsea to silverware like an ox pulling a cart through mud.

And for Ouaddou? His lifeline, his insurance policy, his holy water in a leaky bucket is none other than Kamogelo Sebelebele, the new signing who looks like he’s been sent from the heavens, or at least from a rival coach’s nightmares.

Sebelebele has been a revelation. Each game, he plays as if he personally read Ouaddou’s termination letter and decided, “Not today, boss, not today.

” He runs like he has fuel from another galaxy, tackles like his rent depends on it, and scores goals as if he is allergic to mediocrity.

Without him, Ouaddou would already be on the next flight out of OR Tambo, probably back to wherever coaches who fail in Soweto go to lick their wounds.

Ouaddou’s tactical ideas look shakier than a drunk uncle at a wedding. His substitutions have raised more eyebrows than a pastor caught at a nightclub, and his touchline presence has all the intimidation of a substitute teacher on her first day.

Yet, when Sebelebele scores, Ouaddou celebrates like he just masterminded a tactical revolution. My brother, no, you didn’t. You just got lucky that this one player decided to turn into Superman while you were fumbling with kryptonite.

Sebelebele and this “not-so-sure-about-your-name” coach remind me of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer clinging to Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United like a man clinging to his last meal ticket.

Or Frank Lampard is hiding behind Mason Mount like a politician hiding behind excuses. But unlike many of the gaffers, Pirates’ Ouaddou doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

The fans don’t know him, don’t feel him, and truth be told, aren’t even sure how to pronounce his surname without tripping over their tongues. Imagine losing two opening games when you’re already the “who’s this guy again?” appointment.

It’s suicide, yet Sebelebele refuses to let the obituary be written. His performances are not only carrying Pirates’ but are also painting a thin layer of respectability over Ouaddou’s coaching CV. Without him, the fans’ patience would have evaporated faster than water in the Kalahari sun.

Born and raised in Thembisa, Sebelebele’s talent was evident from an early age, where his speed, versatility, and fearless style of play quickly set him apart from his peers.

Coaches and teammates alike noted his hunger to learn and his ability to light up matches with moments of brilliance, traits that would eventually pave his way to the professional stage.

His professional career began at TS Galaxy, where he initially joined the club’s DStv Diski Challenge setup in 2022. There, the all-action winger refined his craft and gradually established himself as one of the standout prospects in the system. By the 2024/25 season, Sebelebele was playing a pivotal role in Galaxy’s campaign, helping them secure a top-eight finish and attracting the attention of several big-name clubs.

When the offers came, Sebelebele opted for the one that carried both history and weight: Orlando Pirates Football Club. Ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, he signed for the Soweto Giants, fulfilling a boyhood dream and stepping onto one of the biggest stages in African football.

For him, pulling on the famous black-and-white jersey emblazoned with the skull and crossbones was not just a career move but a statement of intent.

A versatile attacker, who last week was deployed as a right back, Sebelebele is comfortable on either flank or is equally adept at cutting inside to score as he is at tracking back to help his defence.

His playing style, explosive, hardworking, and fearless, has quickly made him a fan favourite and, as many observers note, a crucial lifeline for Pirates’ new coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou, during a rocky start to the season.

But beloved reader, let’s not be naïve. One player can only save a coach for so long. Eventually, the mask falls off, the curtain drops, and the emperor is revealed to be wearing… well, not much.

If Ouaddou doesn’t wake up soon and build a system that maximises not only Sebelebele but the rest of his squad, he’ll end up yet another trivia question: “Remember that Moroccan coach Pirates once hired? What was his name again?”

For now, Sebelebele is the glue holding this fragile marriage together. He is the duct tape stopping Ouaddou’s career at Pirates from completely collapsing.

He is the thunder in a silent storm, the last coin in a broke man’s pocket, the one light bulb in a house full of darkness.

So, when you see Ouaddou smiling in press conferences, adjusting his tie, and pretending that all is well, remember: it may not be his philosophy, not his tactics, not even his personality saving him. It is Sebelebele, running, scoring, sweating, sacrificing, keeping his name on the office door at Orlando Stadium.

And if I may whisper directly to Ouaddou: Sir, please, when this season ends, buy Sebelebele the biggest gift basket in Pick n Pay, a car if you can, maybe even name your first-born child after him.

Because without him, you’d already be a forgotten coach, scrolling through LinkedIn looking for your next coaching tender. Kamogelo Sebelebele is saving the Orlando Pirates ‘not-so-sure-about-your-name’ coach’s coaching job. The big question is, until when?
With those words, I rest my case.

…Until my ink paints the next edition. I am Festival B, umgcilati magama since day one. See you in the next print!