Abdeslam Ouaddou makes honest Marumo Gallants admission after cup glory | OneFootball

Interview

Ouaddou on Gallants relationship

Photo: Abdeslam Ouaddou & Technical Team

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has made an honest admission about his relationship with his former club Marumo Gallants.

The Moroccan guided the Soweto giants to a Carling Knockout Cup triumph at the expense of his ex-employers, thanks to Relebohile Mofokeng's solitary goal in extra time this past Saturday.

When quizzed on the emotions of facing his former team in a cup final, the 47-year-old tactician conceded that it was a difficult moment for him as he still has a healthy relationship with the players.

“The feeling is [mixed] when you compete against your former club. I can say that thanks to Marumo, I started my experience at Marumo and I got the opportunity to coach such a big club,” said Ouaddou.

"Of course I have one part of my heart in Bloemfontein, it was my first experience in South Africa - we did well. I love my players from Marumo Gallants, I still have a good connection with them but today [Saturday] I was the coach of Orlando Pirates.

"I needed this trophy for my players, for the club, for the fans, so the feeling is not easy to express myself. But I still have a feeling, I still have love for my players at Marumo, I love them.

Ouaddou went on to urge his former troops to trust in Alexandre Lafitte's project, insisting that Gallants have enough quality to push for a top five finish in the Betway Premiership.

“What I can tell them is that the players that are on the log is not their players, they need need to be in the top five. It's a very good team, very good players and it was the target if I had stayed there,” added the Bucs mentor.

"I said to Sello [Abram], the chairman that, ‘next season if we continue to work together, the target is to be in the top five’. So, they need to believe in themselves, they need to believe in their game model, they need to trust in their coach.

"He is a young coach, he has good ideas, and to work to build a strong team in Bloemfontein because I still believe that Bloemfontein has a place to have two big clubs.