Ouaddou Aims for the League Title

Abdeslam Ouaddou, the head coach of Orlando Pirates, acknowledged that his team can sense the title nearing as they get closer to ending a 14-year drought. The Pirates edged closer to their first league title in over a decade after defeating relegation-threatened Magesi FC at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on May 5, 2026.

Currently, the Sea Robbers sit three points behind league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, boasting a game in hand. With a better goal difference than Sundowns, they will secure the championship if they win their next two matches, which will be played away against Durban City and ORBIT College. Sundowns are set to play their last league game on Tuesday, May 10, 2026, facing TS Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium.

In an interview with SuperSport TV following the victory at Peter Mokaba Stadium, Ouaddou spoke about the title chase, expressing confidence but reminding the team to remain focused on their final two games. "We are very proud of them. I think it's a process of the club. This project of Orlando Pirates is well-managed by fantastic people who know football, so I am not surprised by the title of the DDC," he said.

He continued, "We pray to God to maybe follow their path. We still have two games and definitely want to make our fans happy – 14 or 15 years without a title, I think we start to smell it; we are close, but we cannot touch the trophy. We still have two games; we will see what happens, but credit has to be given to the fantastic fans as well; they really helped us, and we are going to fight for them until the end."