Kamwendo: Riveiro was about individuals while Ouaddou is about team work

By Benjamin Nyirenda

With only about two months into his new job Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has won the MTN 8 trophy after beating Stellenbosch FC 3-0 on Saturday at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga.

After watching the game former Orlando Pirates midfielder Joseph Shakkira Kamwendo said that its good that the Moroccan coach has his own approach to the team compared to what former coach Jose Riveiro was.

In an exclusive interview with Eswatini Daily News the now Malawi based coach said that Riveiro was more of depending on individual players while Ouaddou is using a team work which has so far worked for him and the team.

“I think first and foremost we have to congratulate the new coach you know coming in and win major trophy, the MTN 8 it’s never easy. But I think we must go back and thank the management of Orlando Pirates because of the structures that are there you know.

You may recall that with coach Jose Riveiro he left a very big legacy in terms of winning trophies year in year out. So it was going to be difficult for any new coach that comes in to produce results straight away and then win trophies early in the season.

So this is a very good sign that Orlando Pirates have got a very strong structure that can compete with coach at any given time,” Kamwendo told Eswatini Daily New.

The former midfielder then further stated that the new coach has his own different approach compared to Riveiro.

“I think its never the same. When you look at Jose Riveiro last season you might find that he used most of individual brilliance of players while this coach is more into team work whereby you don’t really see who the star is but you meet an Orlando Pirates team which is very strong to compete and win matches,” Kamwendo observed.

He then added that coaching Orlando Pirates comes with its own pressure which ever coach should be prepared to face.

“Not only that but coaching Orlando Pirates you must work under pressure at any given time. Its a club that demands results you know. So without looking at what the former coach did already signing to become a new Orlando Pirates coach that’s pressure already.

Yes I know the guy (Ouaddou) is capable. I think he just needs support from everyone because at the end of the day it’s not about him or his achievements. Its about what he can do for Orlando Pirates in general.

So yes I believe this trophy is going to give him that confidence going forward and also give atleast something for the supporters,” Kamwendo said.

In conclusion Kamwendo said that the team needs to be consistent so that they can fight for the league title this season.

“It has been like this all the years. You know Orlando Pirates have been competitive all the time but at the end of the day they lack that finishing punch.

They can beat both Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns but still come the end of the season because they are inconsistent sometimes they draw matches that they were not supposed to draw.

They will win matches which you did expect a win from them so until they become consistent. They can go all the way but it won’t be easy if you look at the way Kaizer Chiefs have started.

You can never write Mamelodi Sundowns off ever. So its going to be very tough and exciting season but I believe they have got what it takes to go all the way, ” Kamwendo concluded.

In the past three seasons Pirates have been finishing second in the Betway Premiership League behind defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns. But in that period they have won five trophies in the MTN 8 and the Nedbank Cup.