An angry Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou criticised a lack of application from his World Cup players after an indifferent performance against AmaZulu in the Betway Premiership on Wednesday.
He said some of the seven players who have returned to the club from the tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States had yet “to land” back mentally.
He did, however, praise the performances of goalkeeper Sipho Chaine and defender Nkosinathi Sibisi, leaving Tshepang Moremi and Kamogelo Sebelelebe, plus possibly substitute Oswin Appollis, in his crosshairs.
Pirates’ other World Cup players were Evidence Makgopa and Talenthe Mbatha, who are both injured and did not play, and Relebohile Mofokeng, now playing in Belgium.
Ouaddou said he was less concerned about the result than he was about the attitude of some players.
“My worry is when am I going to recover the international players fully fit? I have seen a fantastic game of Sibisi. Top, really, he played his role today. Chaine played his role, but since the beginning of the season, I am playing with one or two men down.
“So when am I going to recover them? I hope soon as soon as possible, because there is an emergency, and you know that every point is very important.
“I need quickly my international players to land, let's say, on our planet, in our house, because the US is finished, and they need quickly to be part of the team spirit, and feel the expectation of the club, the expectation of the fans, because football, you know, it's very difficult to wait because if we wait until December for them to get fit, it will be late. So, I need really them to come to the party.”
Moremi did score early, albeit with a scuffed shot, but was then wayward with his subsequent shooting. Sebelebele gave away the penalty that allowed AmaZulu to come back and draw.
“Look, I'm not too worried about the fact that we will catch up to the point that maybe we lost here, but again, not many teams are going to win here against AmaZulu, because they are really a good team, good players, and I can guarantee you that not many teams are coming to win here.
“Only at the end of this season can we say that we drop two points or won one point, you understand?”