Ertugral warns of title fight despite Pirates' dominance

ORLANDO Pirates' rapid rise under Abdeslam Ouaddou has not gone unnoticed, with veteran coach Muhsin Ertugral praising the French-Moroccan tactician's influence and backing him to develop even further with the team.

- SMISO MSOMI

ORLANDO Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou with his deputy Mandla Ncikazi continue to receive praise for the way they steer the Buccaneers's ship.

(BackpagePix)

Ouaddou was appointed in June 2025 and has overseen a dramatic transformation at the Buccaneers, restoring belief, structure and consistency to a side that had promised much but often fallen short in previous seasons.

The results have been emphatic.

Since taking charge, Ouaddou has guided Pirates to MTN8 and Carling Knockout success, while building an imposing league campaign that has produced 20 wins and just three defeats in 24 matches across all competitions. Defensively, Pirates have been exceptional. Ouaddou, a former Fulham and Morocco international defender, has instilled discipline and organisation, with the team registering a record eight consecutive victories without conceding a goal.