Ouaddou Comments on Mbuthuma's National Call-Up

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou praised South African senior national team coach Pitso Mosimane for recognizing the talent of Yanela Mbuthuma. This acknowledgment followed Mbuthuma's call-up to the Bafana Bafana squad, which is set to compete in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea, along with an international friendly match against Egypt. Ouaddou expressed his support for Mbuthuma, particularly after the striker faced criticism for his lack of goals and assists during the latter part of the previous season and the early phase of the current one. The 24-year-old forward bounced back recently, scoring in three different competitions, including the CAF Champions League, ultimately securing his place in the Bafana Bafana setup for the second time since June of the prior year.

In response to the call-up, Ouaddou stated, "First of all, I’m very happy and again I thank Coach Pitso for noticing the quality of this boy. You know, if I notice that this boy has quality, and Coach Pitso notices as well that he has quality, I think that this boy has something, you understand?" He added that the call-up should clear doubts about Mbuthuma's capabilities.

"It’s a big answer for all people who have doubts about this boy, and it’s not because he’s in the national team that he’s going to stop working. I will be behind him to push him to be at his best and to continue to work specifically in the areas of finishing."

This reflects not only Ouaddou's confidence in his player but also highlights the importance of continued effort, regardless of the recognition received.

Tags: Abdeslam Ouaddou, Bafana Bafana, Orlando Pirates, Pitso Mosimane, Yanela Mbuthuma