Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou felt his side tried to rush their way through their opening match of the new Betway Premiership season, making too many mistakes before eventually getting the better of newly promoted Milford on Saturday.
The 2-0 win at the Orlando Stadium came with a deflected goal from Oswin Appollis’ 24th-minute free-kick and an insurance goal five minutes from time courtesy of Tshepang Moremi.
“I think we started the game exactly how we wanted to start it in terms of intensity, in terms of suffocating the opponent. I think the guys did well because it was our target to score early,” Ouaddou said as he reflected on the performance afterwards.
“But after the goal, if I have to describe the first half, I think, to be honest, we needed more control, especially in the heart of the game. I cannot say that the opponent created chances. Of course, sometimes they had some sequences of possession, but they were not at all dangerous because that possession was in front of our team block.
“We knew that they were able to play, but as long as they were not dangerous, it was not a problem.”
SERENITY ON THE BALL
Ouaddou said that at the halftime break, he appealed to his players for more calm.
“I asked my players to be calmer, to bring more serenity on the ball because they were sometimes in a rush. We made a lot of mistakes by rushing in decision-making, but once we managed to resolve this, I think we had more control in the second half, especially with a fantastic (Cemran) Dansin. Let's hope that he continues that performance,” the coach added.
“And we created three or four chances. I think it was a game that could finish with a 4-0 or 5-0 scoreline. So let's not be too harsh with our players. I think there was this stress of wanting to do well for the opening game.”
Pirates head into the MTN8 next weekend, which they have won four seasons in a row, when they host Durban City at the Orlando Stadium next Saturday.
“I hope that next game maybe we will be more, let's say, more regular in possession, in control of the game,” Ouaddou added.
“Three points are very important. If I have to come back to last season, I think we did better, for sure,” he said about the fact that he lost his opening two Betway Premiership fixtures at the beginning of the last campaign.
“And we have to continue,” he added.