Squad depth for Orlando Pirates is going to be even more important this season as the champions look to retain their Betway Premiership title, continue to win knockout competitions, and also chase success on the continent.
Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, whose side won three trophies in the last campaign, says depth is going to be a major factor for the club this season.
“As long as you qualify in all the competitions and you are going far, it's much easier to involve all your squad when you are competing in every competition,” said Ouaddou as Pirates turn their attention to the defence of their MTN8 title.
“Things start to be difficult when you play only one or two competitions. Then it's very difficult to give game time to everybody and make everybody happy, because professional footballers come to train, but at the end of the week of training, they need their gift. And the gift is to play in the game.
“And the more competitions you play, the more chance that you can give to your squad and have less problems in terms of management. So for me, that’s a target, to qualify in every competition and to be ambitious in every competition,” he added.
Pirates’ bid to win an unprecedented fifth successive MTN8 title begins on Saturday when they host Durban City in their quarterfinal tie at the Orlando Stadium.
There is the question of how many players Ouaddou would be comfortable working with.
“Look, again, if we play all the competitions, the PSL, the Champions League, MTN8, Carling Knockout, Nedbank Cup, 30 players is okay for me, plus you add the four goalkeepers. It's 34 and you can have suspension, injuries, so if you play all these competitions, I can manage not more than that, to be honest.
If you have 35, it starts to be difficult because you cannot be really efficient in your work. And one point that is very important as well … when you have 30 players to manage, of course you need the staff, and you need facilities as well. When I say facilities, it's to have at least two pitches,” the Pirates coach explained.
On the new players in the squad this season, Ouaddou said he would not be rushing them into the team. Saturday’s starting-up when they began their league campaign against Milford had none of the newcomers.
“I take lessons, you know, it's never late to learn. Last season, I can say that I was a little bit in a rush to put new players in the starting XI.
“This season, I decided to have more stability in the starting XI and all the new players trying to bring them along.
"So I think they’ll bring something, some more energy, some more control in the game. I think it's good news for us to know that these players can help us, but I'm sure I'm sure that in the season we will see them more and more.”