Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou believes the slew of Premier Soccer League awards won by the Buccaneers can help motivate them to achieve even more in the coming season. Pirates sweep PSL awards Pirates won a total of ten awards on Monday night, with Ouaddou taking home the Betway Premiership Coach of the Season. “I don’t think the awards bring any pressure,” said the Pirates head coach.
“It shows you how this club is organised and how this club is ambitious. When I see players from Pirates winning awards, it is the club that gives us the platform to achieve. “I always say it is another motivation to go higher.
We have to take these awards and keep moving. You must set new targets every morning when you wake up.” Pirates will begin the defence of their Betway Premiership title on Saturday when they host Milford FC. They will have to do so without Relebohole Mofokeng, who was named PSL Footballer of the Season, Betway Premiership Players’ Player of the Season and Betway Premiership Young Player of the Season.
The Bafana star has sealed a transfer to Belgian side Union St Gilloise. “Rele was an important player for the club,” added Ouaddou. “You can just see in our data, his involvement in our chance creation was huge.
But I believe that it is important to find another profile (of player) who can take the lead. It is (also) important to speak about the collective. In Spain (during pre-season) we worked on many combinations.
I think we will have a good answer this weekend.” Pirates have brought in a Norwegian centre-forward ahead of the new season, with 27-year0old Sebastian Pedersen joining the Buccaneers ranks. Ouaddou hopes Pederden can help improve Pirates’ finishing in the 2026/27 campaign. “I think the scouting department was looking for a profile of player that can help us increase our average chance conversion,” he said.
Summary from source