Challenged by Sipho Sibiya of Kruger United during the Betway Premiership, Orlando Pirates striker Yanela Mbuthuma scored two goals on the night leaving his coach Abdeslam Ouaddou confident about their Caf Champions Legue start.
Orlando Pirates may not yet be running like a well-oiled machine, but coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has been pleased with his team’s efficiency, saying it will be pivotal in their bid to qualify for the CAF Champions League group stage.
Pirates will begin their continental quest with a preliminary round first-leg clash away to Le Cure Sylvester on Sunday. This is a match they will want to win to set a tone for the remainder of the season, especially after falling short in the final round of qualifiers to St Eloi Lupopo last season.
Missing out on the Champions League group stage last season nearly cut Ouaddou’s stint short at the club, as some impatient supporters felt he was out of his depth and couldn’t build on Jose Riveiro’s foundation after Riveiro led the team to a semi-final finish on the continent.
The Moroccan was backed by the club bosses, and he duly repaid their faith, silencing his detractors. He won the Betway Premiership, ending a 14-year drought, bagged the MTN8, the club’s fourth in a row, and broke the team’s hoodoo in the newly rebranded Carling Knockout.
