Ouaddou balances pride and pressure as Orlando Pirates lose eight to international duty

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has admitted that the club must manage a difficult situation as eight of his players depart for international duty just two weeks before the MTN8 final.

The Buccaneers, who are preparing to face Stellenbosch on 13 September, will be without seven players called up by Bafana Bafana, while Abdoulaye Mariko has joined up with Guinea-Bissau. It leaves Ouaddou and his technical staff with a reduced squad during what should have been a vital period of preparation for the season’s first piece of silverware.

By contrast, Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker has a full complement of players to work with. Stellies have no representatives in national-team camps, allowing them an uninterrupted fortnight to refine their approach before the final.

Ouaddou, however, remained philosophical about the challenge.

“We are Orlando Pirates, a very big club and of course with international players and I’m happy for them,” he said.

“It’s life at a big club, we have to deal with that and manage it the best way we can. We don’t have to do anything but encourage our players and I hope they will give their best for the national team.”

Pirates’ status as one of South Africa’s giants has long meant supplying a large contingent to the national side. That responsibility is viewed with pride inside the club, even if it complicates preparation for major fixtures.

Ouaddou, himself a former Morocco international with 59 caps, drew on his playing days to underline the importance of balancing club and country.

“I was an international player not so long ago, so I know how important it is to play for your country,” he added. “We don’t have a choice but to manage it.”

The contrast with Stellenbosch could not be starker. Barker’s side, already riding high on consistency in the Betway Premiership, now benefit from a settled group and uninterrupted tactical sessions. For Pirates, it means relying on squad depth and ensuring players returning from international action are quickly reintegrated.

In Ouaddou’s favour is the wealth of talent at his disposal. Pirates have invested heavily in recent seasons to build a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts, and the upcoming final will test not just their quality but also their resilience.

Stellies, though, will sense opportunity. Having reached another domestic cup final, Barker’s men are eyeing what would be a historic triumph, particularly given their edge in preparation.

For Pirates, the challenge lies in balancing pride at their international representation with the immediate demand of chasing silverware. Ouaddou’s message is clear: support the internationals, manage what remains, and trust in the badge.

The MTN8 final is fast approaching, and while Stellenbosch enjoy smoother sailing in the build-up, Pirates have been down this road many times before. For Ouaddou, the task now is ensuring international absences do not become a stumbling block.