by MTHULISI SIBANDA
JOHANNESBURG – IN a league synonymous with trigger-happy club owners and toxic supporters, Orlando Pirates coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou, is treading dangerously.
His side has lost two of their opening league matches in the Betway Premiership and adding to the fact that the new coach is at a club where winning a league title cannot even save your job places him in an increasingly untenable position.
Pirates, who were tipped to contend for the league title have incured a horrible start to the league, the latest setback a 2-1 loss to the Moroccan’s former side, Marumo Gallants, at Doctor Petrus Molemela on Tuesday evening.
His exit from Gallants was acrimonious, before his appointment in June.
Pirates’ first match ended in a 1-0 home defeat to Sekhukhune United last weekend.
The next match is against the all-conquering Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN 8 semifinal on Saturday, leaving Bucs’ fans justifiably panicky.
They are not a patient lot.
“We are going to analyse the game and see what is going wrong especially in the second half,” Ouaddou said post-match.
Pirates are 14th in a 16-team table.
Qualms among fans is that he seems to have overhauled a winning team that consistently competed with Sundowns for the title.
Legendary Pirates goalkeeper, Moneeb Josephs, described the current team as “lost.”
Gallants, meanwhile, are top with a perfect six points.
Sundowns have leaped to second after beating AmaZulu 2-0 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, to make up for points dropped in a draw away at Chippa United.
Newsboys Orbit College defeated new franchise, Siwelele, 1-0 at Dobsonville on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, rejuvenated Kaizer Chiefs host Polokwane City at FNB Stadium. Golden Arrows and Richards Bay contest a KwaZulu-Natal derby at King Zwelithini.
Magesi welcome Stellensbosch to Seshego up north in Limpopo.
Newcomers Durban City welcome Chippa to the east coast while Sekhukhune and TS Galaxy play at Peter Mokaba also in Limpopo.
– CAJ News
