Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has dismissed speculation about tensions within the club following reports of a fallout with assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi, insisting that the environment at the club remains positive ahead of their CAF Champions League encounter.
Speaking at a press conference, Ouaddou said Ncikazi was recovering from surgery and wished him a speedy recovery, urging people not to create unnecessary controversy around the situation.
“He had surgery, so now he’s recovering. I just wish him all the best,” said Ouaddou.
“Everything is okay in our club. The environment is okay, so people must not start to create any problem.”
The Buccaneers are preparing for the second leg of their CAF Champions League second Preliminary round tie after securing a positive result away in Botswana.
Ouaddou acknowledged the difficult conditions in the first leg but expressed confidence in his players’ readiness for the return fixture.
The coach revealed that preparations had focused on recovery and tactical adjustments, with the team determined to secure progression to the next stage of the competition.
The boys are ready to come back to the Champions League, and we need to win this second half. We will do everything in terms of commitment and organisation to go through the stages for our fans,” he said.
Ouaddou added that returning to Africa’s premier club competition remained a major objective for the Soweto giants, describing Pirates as a giant on the continent.
He compared the club’s absence from the Champions League to Morocco missing out on the FIFA World Cup, emphasising the importance of having big teams competing on the biggest stages.
Meanwhile, the coach provided updates on striker Sebastian Pedersen and winger Oswin Appollis.
Ouaddou praised Pedersen’s commitment and progress in training but explained that the club was carefully managing his integration into the squad.
He said the striker was working towards full match fitness and that the technical team was waiting for the right moment to introduce him without risking his development.
On Appollis, the coach delivered encouraging news, confirming that the winger had returned to training and was being assessed after an injury.
Although the player reported feeling no further pain, Ouaddou stressed that the club would not rush his return given his importance to the team and the demands of a busy fixture schedule.
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Ouaddou also played down concerns about pressure ahead of the encounter, saying the players had confidence in their preparation and understood what was required.
Captain Thapelo Xoki echoed the coach’s sentiments, confirming that preparations had gone well and that the squad was eager to play in front of their home supporters.
“From the players’ perspective, everyone is ready. The preparations have gone well. We’re just eager and waiting to go tomorrow and rally with our own home supporters,” said Xoki.
The Pirates captain added that the team’s focus was on completing the tie successfully and securing a place in the Champions League group stages.