Orlando Pirates legend Benedict ‘Tso’ Vilakazi believes the new Bucs coach Abdeslam Ouaddou can take the club to the next level.
The 46-year-old coach takes over from Jose Riveiro, who has since moved to Al Ahly. After much specualtion about his replacement, Pirates announced on Monday that Ouaddou was their new coach.
A day after the announcement, the Buccaneers reveiled that Sipho Mbule was their new signing ahead of the new season.
Vilakazi, who is Pirates’ all-time leading goalscorer, has backed Ouaddou to succeed.
“Look, he did very well at Marumo Gallants, they [Pirates supporters] just have to give him the support and confidence to say we believe in you, and we saw the job you did at Gallants and hope you will do it here at Pirates,” he told Sowetan Live.
“He is a good coach looking at what he did with Gallants. He didn’t even have a pre-season with them. We always know Gallants to be fighting for relegation, but he put them in a position where they didn’t have to worry about that. Just imagine with the material and resources at Pirates, I think he can take the club to another level.”
Ouaddou joins Pirates from Marumo Gallants
Vilakazi did admit that the new coach will need time but felt confident that he will succeed given the fact that he will assess his team during pre-season.
“He has an opportunity to create his history because he will find good players at Pirates,” added the former Bafana Bafana star.
“I think he is going to do well, we just need to give him time and I think it is good that he will have a pre-season with the team unlike at Gallants, yet he still put them in a good position. Imagine with the good players Pirates have … I think things will be much better.”
Ouaddou’s big test will be during pre-season when Pirates play a number of friendly matches in Spain.
Do you think Ouaddou will succeed?
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