Exhausted coach Ouaddou undecided on Pirates future

ABDESLAM Ouaddou led Orlando Pirates with passion, raw emotion and selflessness over the last 10 months, forcing him to empty his tank in the process.

- MIHLALI BALEKA

ORLANDO Pirates players celebrate after winning the Nedbank Cup final against Mamelodi Sundowns at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday night.

(BackpagePix)

That's why he needs to thoroughly recharge and reflect before deciding whether he can continue leading the team.

Ouaddou awakened a sleeping giant over the weekend as he returned Pirates to the summit of South African football, winning the Betway Premiership to end a 14-year title drought in his first season. That completed a domestic treble, having already won the MTN8 and Carling Knockout.

Under his stewardship, the Buccaneers became a force to be reckoned with. They showed desire, a never-say-die attitude and maturity, despite the squad largely consisting of relatively young players.

Ouaddou’s devotion to his job has endeared him to The Ghost, as he brought immense success where even highly rated predecessors failed over the years.

Given all that, most people associated with the club want the towering Moroccan to continue in his role next season and build on the foundation he has laid. However, Ouaddou is not sure whether that will be the case.