Nedbank Cup: Pirates coach commends Gallants’ progress under Ouaddou

Ncikazi: Photo Credit: Orlando Pirates.

Orlando Pirates FC assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi has saluted Marumo Gallants FC’s mentor Abdeslam Ouaddou for transforming the Betway Premiership team in South Africa.

Ncikazi spoke glowingly about Ouaddou ahead of Sunday’s Nedbank Cup semifinal meeting between Marumo Gallants and the Buccaneers at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg.

“We are up against a very transformed side. They are doing very well. They won their previous two matches. It is an indication that the coach influences the team," he said.

With fixtures coming thick and fast, the Pirates assistant coach emphasized the need to seize every opportunity and win.

"We are jumping quickly into another competition; an important match. We have to win every match. It is another match that is important to us, for us to have an opportunity to go to the final. We have to go through Marumo Gallants,” Ncikazi added.

Ouaddou challenged his players to beat Pirates in the semifinal and eventually bring the trophy to Bloemfontein ‘as teams in Gauteng such as the Buccaneers have enough silverware.'

Gallant beat Pirates 2-0 in the Betway Premiership game weeks ago in a second game for the Moroccan coach who replaced Dan Malesela recently.

Pirates will switch to domestic action after sailing past MC Alger 0-0 on Wednesday to qualify for the CAF Champions League semifinal 1-0 on aggregate. They will now face Pyramids FC of Egypt in the last-four.