French ties and professional contacts link Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs coaches in Soweto derby

Abdeslam Waddu experienced all the emotions of the Soweto Derby. When he did not express his disappointment by throwing objects or loosening his tie, he lay on the ground. However, in the end, everything made sense: the Moroccan triumphantly knelt down after the final whistle, clenching his fist and pointing it to the sky.

The Pirates, perhaps the most exciting team in domestic football since the start of the season, faced their second toughest test against bitter rivals Kaizer Chiefs. Previously, Pirates met Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final.

After losing 2-0 in the final, it seemed that Pirates would fail again. But this match would have been even more painful because it was a derby where not only three points but also the right to national pride were at stake.

Chiefs demonstrated energetic play in the first half, despite an early miss by Vandile Duba and a goal by Pirates scored by Yanela Mbutuma. In fact, they created their own luck when Pule Mmodi scored after Sifo Chain failed to make a save.

Chiefs had many chances to finish the game in the first half by using spaces through timely runs, which was partly related to Waddu's mistaken system, which included using Dion Hotto on the right flank instead of his preferred position as a left-back.

The Pirates' midfield was also practically empty, and Lebohang Maboe and Sibongiseni Mtethwa easily controlled the game. But despite their dominance, Chiefs could not convert their chances, and the teams went to halftime with a score of 1-1.

The first half showed that Pirates are not yet fully tuned, and their young players must develop composure to deliver results in tense matches if they want to remain a dominant force.

However, Waddu seems to have instilled a kind of fighting spirit in this team, even when they find themselves in a difficult situation. Pirates demonstrated this in the second half, taking the lead thanks to Tshepangu Moremi.

Waddu might have thought they overcame difficulties by fielding Mteteleli Mtyana and Mpho Padime in the derby debut. The former seemed to accelerate the aging of the experienced coach, losing possession not once, but several times. Meanwhile, Padime proved more constructive that day.

It should be noted that Waddu looked disappointed not just because his team was not playing well, but also because Chiefs were making it easier for Pirates and were ready to attack.

This was largely due to the fact that coach Amahosi Fernando da Cruz did not look his best in the second half. Despite realizing that his team lost intensity in the remaining 30 minutes, he still refrained from tactical substitutions until the 75th minute.

This decision not only revealed a lack of Plan B but also hinted at an unwillingness to take risks, especially in a derby where the difference in score matters little compared to the result: win, draw, or loss.

Overall, Pirates won, and Waddu enjoyed the moment with the players and fans after the final whistle, demonstrating some graceful dance moves. This was a reward for a hard-fought victory, even if the performance also showed that his team still has a long way to go.

The coach of Orlando Pirates, Abdelslam Wadee, strongly urged his players to strive for the second CAF Champions League title after 'Bucaneers' secured qualification for the group stage.

The team established itself among Africa's elite by achieving a convincing 4-0 victory over 'African Stars' at the Orlando Amstel Arena stadium on Friday. This win completed a cumulative score of 5-0, as the team had previously held a slight advantage in the second match.

For Wadee, this qualification for the group stage is a significant achievement, especially following the disappointment of last season when Pirates failed to pass the preliminary rounds.

He noted: 'I think this is a big challenge for us, and for me, after what happened last season, after we couldn't make it to the group stage, this is a gift for our fans.'

The Moroccan coach believes that now 'Bucaneers' must shift focus from qualification to making a substantial impact in the tournament, aiming for the ultimate goal—adding another continental crown to the club's history.

Pirates won the CAF Champions League title for the first time in 1995, and Wadee encourages his footballers to believe in the possibility of winning a second star.

He stated: 'Now we must be ambitious, try to go far (in the tournament), why not? We must dream big if we want to achieve anything. As I told the guys, let's dream big; can't we bring back the second star if we work hard and remain professionals? I think everything is possible in football.'

The coach's comments set an ambitious tone for Pirates' campaign in the group stage, although the path to continental greatness will require consistency against some of Africa's strongest clubs.

'Bucaneers' must leverage the confidence gained from the impressive victory over 'African Stars' while balancing their continental ambitions with domestic obligations. Their immediate focus shifts to the Carlinng-Naikdaut Cup, where they face 'Milford FC' on Tuesday. The quick succession of matches will test the depth of the squad as Wadee strives to maintain Pirates' competitiveness across multiple competitions.

Nevertheless, for the coach, qualification is more than just a task completed. It is a chance to restore the club's connection to a competition that, in his view, demands its history and status. Pirates now have a platform to realize this ambition. Whether they can turn Wadee's dream of a second star into reality will depend on their performance when the group stage challenge begins.

Orlando Pirates coach Abdelslam Waddu explained why Sipho Shine is a key figure in the Buccaneers' impressive form, emphasizing his role as a leader at the core of the team.

These comments came after the Pirates defeated Namibia champions African Stars in the first match of the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, which took place at the National Stadium in Gaborone, Botswana. Tshepanga Moremi's goal in the second half gave the 'Soweto giants' a slight advantage heading into the return match on Friday in Johannesburg, where the team will aim to secure its place in the group stage.

This victory also continued the strong run of Pirates across all tournaments. This season, the team has lost only once in 15 matches, winning 12 and drawing twice, while keeping a clean sheet in 11 games.

Shine has made a significant contribution to this defensive statistic, but Waddu believes the goalkeeper's contribution goes beyond simply stopping shots. The Pirates coach explained that his tactical approach depends on having influential leaders throughout the entire team, with the goalkeeper playing a crucial role in organizing the defense and setting standards.

During the post-match press conference, Waddu stated: 'You see, in my playing model, in how I train, I have always placed great importance on the whole team, of course, the players. But you always need a foundation, and the foundation is the goalkeeper, a pair of central defenders, the midfield six, the ten, and the nine. And I need to have a leader in every line. It is important to have a well-tuned mechanism. You need strategic leaders in every line.'

Shine's statistics over the last two seasons confirm his importance to the Pirates. In the 2024/25 CAF Champions League campaign, the 'Bafana Bafana' goalkeeper played 14 matches and recorded nine clean sheets, becoming the tournament's top goalkeeper in this category during Pirates' run under former coach Jose Ribeiro.

He further showed 21 clean sheets in 30 Betway Premier League matches in the 2025/26 season, starting in every league game while Pirates completed their 14-year wait for a league title. Thus, the current Goalkeeper of the Year has established himself not just as the last line of defense, but as a source of stability and leadership in Pirates' fight on multiple fronts.

As African Stars arrive in Johannesburg for the second match on Friday, Shine's influence may once again prove decisive as Pirates strive to maintain their advantage and complete the task at home.