Abdeslam Ouaddou reacts to Pirates going top of Premiership | OneFootball

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Ouaddou on Bucs topping log standings

Photo: Daniel Hlongwane/ Gallo Images

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has reacted to his team climbing to the summit of the Betway Premiership table following a 2-0 victory over AmaZulu in Durban on Tuesday.

Bucs sensation Relebohile Mofokeng broke the deadlock in the 16th minute, before rattling the post to force an own goal off Usuthu shot-stopper Darren Johnson deep in stoppage time.

Pirates are three points clear of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns and five points ahead of third-placed Kaizer Chiefs, having picked up 35 points in 15 games, much to the delight of Ouaddou.

“I'm very happy, the journey is continuing, the adventure is continuing, I think we are now first on the log. The most difficult [thing] now is to stay [on top] and I hope my players will have strong mentality, strong character, strong personality to hold [onto] this position,” said the Moroccan tactician.

"It's a top moment for us, we are excited to keep working hard, to keep living well together, to have a fantastic team spirit, the unity, the solidarity will help us to keep that position. I can tell you it will not be easy because we have good teams.

"For us it's just not to be stressful, not to have pressure at all and just play our football to keep that organisation, that unity, that strong spirit and we play game after game and we see what happens at the end of the season.

Though pleased with topping the log standings, the 47-year-old mentor urged his troops to keep their feet on the ground as he relishes a fierce title race to end Sundowns' monopoly.

“If you want to be part of this race that I call a marathon, we won today it's fine, I'm happy for the players, but the journey is still long to reach the target because you have strong teams in the PSL. So, you have to be humble, you have to work and be professional,” Ouaddou added.

"There are a lot of strong teams to compete in the PSL, we see the games every weekend and I think it's good for South African football to have three or four teams in the race for the title - it brings value to South African football.

"You cannot have a team which dominates for decades with 20 points [gap], you even lose the interest of football. So, I think it's a good year now that we have three or four teams fighting for the title.