Abdeslam Ouaddou breaks down Mbuthuma qualities | OneFootball

Interview

Ouaddou on what makes Mbuthuma suitable for his game model

Photo: Yanela Mbuthuma

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has explained what makes Yanela Mbuthuma a perfect fit for his football philosophy.

The 23-year-old striker signed for the Buccaneers in the off-season from Richards Bay, and he has since chipped in with five goals, including a solitary assist in 14 matches across all competitions.

Mbuthuma led the line in the last two matches, contributing to two goals, much to the delight of Ouaddou, who dissected the player's qualities.

“I like local talent, when you have young local talent you have to give them the opportunity to shine and before looking what's happening elsewhere, to think that the grass is greener in other countries, you have to look at what you have in your country,” said the Bucs mentor.

"And we have the chance to have some talents in the country and we are using him well like the other players and we have talent like you [media] said. You mentioned [Boitumelo] Radiopane, Mbuthuma, [Evidence] Makgopa. They are all good players we can use.

"What I can tell you about Mbuthuma [is that] he's a modern striker and what I like about him, Makgopa and Radiopane, is the capacity to play as well without the ball. Some people think they are only here in the box just to score but this kind of football is finished. When you play very slow in five square meters - this kind of football is finished, they don't have to dream about it.

"The new modern football you have to be efficient with the ball, you have to be efficient in the box when you get the ball, you have to be mobile, you have to play with the ball as well when we find you in the pocket, you have to make runs without the ball. When we are pressing we have to recover the ball together.

The 47-year-old tactician went on to attribute his team's success to a strong defensive unit, stressing that strikers who are not accustomed to pressing have no place in his squad.

“We are so strong because everybody is working in our team, it's not only the back four. [Mbekezeli] Mbokazi left, yes, he was one of the best players in the country but the system is still here because everybody is working and the first defenders are my strikers,” Ouaddou added.

"So, to come back to Mbuthuma, he has this ability, this fitness to help us by making the first effort of five seconds, to allow his midfielders and his defenders to recover the ball. And somebody who cannot do this, who maybe is lazy, cannot play high-level football, well, at least he cannot play in my team because the game model is asking a little more than staying and putting a tent in the box and waiting for the ball.