Revealed: Why Goals Give Pirates License To…

(Photo by Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images)

Orlando Pirates captain Nkosinathi Sibisi has explained the thinking behind Abdeslam Ouaddou’s stance on showboating, revealing that the coach wants his players to deliver the goals before expressing themselves on the pitch.

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Ouaddou has previously warned against prioritising individual flair over the team’s objectives, particularly when matches remain in the balance or Pirates have failed to make their dominance count on the scoreboard.

However, following some convincing victories in which the Buccaneers have scored freely, the coach has indicated that he is willing to allow his players greater freedom to entertain, provided they remain ruthless in front of goal.

Sibisi believes the approach makes sense, especially given the youthful nature of the squad and the individual qualities within it.

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Speaking at the Soweto Derby press conference at SuperSport Studios in Randburg, the Pirates skipper explained that players naturally want to express themselves, but doing so becomes more difficult when the result is still uncertain.

“Yeah, look, I think we have a young squad. Sometimes they want to express themselves, and they can’t express themselves when the game is normal or 1-1, or 2-0,” Sibisi told the media.

He explained that Ouaddou’s emphasis on scoring more goals is intended to ensure that individual expression does not come at the expense of the team’s performance.

“So the coach tries and emphasises that you must score a lot of goals, and then you can express yourself as best as possible, because people want to see a show,” he added.

Sibisi also stressed that Pirates should not unnecessarily restrict players whose strengths include flair and creativity, pointing to Mpho Padime as an example.

“We don’t want to limit players in their full capacity because Popo is not a ‘Bodlela’ who will defend. Popo is a showman. Sometimes we have to accept that it’s his quality, and we must use that,” Sibisi said.

“I think even our supporters come in numbers to watch that kind of football. So, yeah, we try to find a balance. We have to deliver, the coach wants us to deliver, score your goals, and then you can enjoy after,” he concluded.

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