Nedbank Cup: Coach Ouaddou challenges Marumo Gallants to beat Pirates and win silverware

Marumo Gallants coach Abdeslam Ouaddou (right). Photo Credit: Marumo Gallants FC

Marumo Gallants coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has challenged his players to beat Orlando Pirates in Sunday’s Nedbank Cup semifinal and eventually bring the trophy to Bloemfontein ‘as teams in Gauteng such as the Buccaneers have enough silverware’.

The Moroccan said this ahead of the last-four encounter at Orlando Stadium in a game that should interest neutrals considering that Gallants are among a few teams to have defeated Jose Riveiro’s men this season.

According to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Ouaddou insisted that Pirates’ involvement in the CAF Champions League on Tuesday does not put them at any disadvantage as they have depth in the squad to come with crammed fixtures.

''I don't take too much of these factors into consideration. The kind of team that we are playing here, they play three games in 10 days and they are fit. I think we will have a very strong opponent but I told my players that teams in Gauteng already have trophies, so for a change we need to bring this trophy to Bloemfontein,'' he expressed.

Having defeated Pirates 2-0 in a Betway Premiership game weeks ago, the Gallants boss admitted that the 2021 Nedbank Cup winners are up against a possible revenge mission from the Buccaneers.

''It's a big challenge for us but we know that we had a great performance a few weeks ago. But it is another game and we are prepared for that. We go there with an ambition to go through. When teams get to the semifinals, then there are no more small teams, everybody has to respect every team,'' Ouaddou told SABC.

Gallants are enjoying a new lease of life under the new coach who replaced Dan Malesela, winning twice and drawing once in the league, the last assignment being a one-all draw with SuperSport United on April 5.

Pirates drew 0-0 against MC Alger in the CAF Champions League quarterfinal, second leg match on Wednesday and progressed to the semifinal 1-0 on aggregate after they won the first leg by such a margin.