The pepper-like performance of Orlando Pirates in the Betway Premiership this season does not scare its coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou, who has warned the teams of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) who are yet to face his own to hold firm because they intend to raise the level even more than to lower it in the remaining games.
Pirates returned to the top of the log by beating AmaZulu FC 3-0 with goals from Yanela Mbuthuma, Oswin Appollis and Relebohile Mofokeng on Saturday afternoon, at Orlando Amstel Arena, Soweto.
Although Pirates are at the top with 58 points, it is important to remember that Mamelodi Sundowns are in second place with 56, with two games remaining.
This team from Soweto, which is trying to displace Sundowns from dominating South African football, has five games left this season.
At the forefront of these games are Pirates’ big rivals, Kaizer Chiefs, who will face each other on Sunday at 3 pm, at FNB Stadium, Nasrec. Chiefs will be followed by Stellenbosch FC, Magesi FC, Durban City and Orbit College FC.
After the MaZulu game, Ouaddou told the media who were at the conference that he was not surprised by the way the Pirates have improved since the season is coming to an end.
“When the season started we worked hard to ensure that our players will be fit until the end,” said Ouaddou.
“It was already the intention that we hit these times of the season early enough because we understood that in order to succeed in achieving our dream of the league we have to support the talent with hard work.
“We have six games left in which we do not have a sign of humility. What I can say with my mouth full is that in these remaining games we are determined to be more aggressive than the one we showed against the Zulu.
“The teams that we are yet to face forces them to hold their own because instead of slowing down on the road we are on, we can put in other gears if needed.
“We know the battle we are fighting, so anyone who stands in front of us should make sure that he represents himself because the way we want to win the six games we have left forces us to use violence if we have to,” said Ouaddou.
Although it is known that the game between Pirates and Chiefs is always intense, but this time there is a lot connected to the result of the game.
Chiefs are still licking their wounds since they were beaten 3-0 by Pirates in February. Although the win won’t make much of a difference, it will ease the hearts of Chiefs fans to bring back the sticks.
The problem with this is that Ouaddou’s Pirates are running in a scary way these days which proves their determination to intensify the title fight with Sundowns until the end.