Abdeslam Ouaddou relishing heated title race with Sundowns | OneFootball

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Ouaddou derives great joy from intense title race with Downs

Photo: psl.co.za

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says he is enjoying the heated Betway Premiership title race with defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns.

The Buccaneers sit at the summit of the log standings, level on 44 points with the second-placed Brazilians, with 11 matches remaining for both teams.

With the business end of the 2025/26 campaign fast approaching, Ouaddou has maintained the battle for supremacy is a marathon which requires consistency.

“The PSL is a strong league, especially this season we saw that it's very tight and it's a marathon, it's a race, and in a marathon you don't have to calm down in terms of rhythm, in terms of winning,” said the Bucs mentor.

"So, we need every game to give our best, to take points, to win games and at the end we will see, but again I have to thank my boys for the character today [Wednesday]. It's not easy to come to play here [Polokwane] and let's focus for the next game.

Though there's little room for error, the Pirates boss is relishing going pound to pound with a rampant Sundowns side that has won eight championships on the trot.

“Yes [I'm enjoying the race], you know there is a lot of interest for football, it's nice for the PSL, it's nice for the fans. When a team is leading with 15 points in the middle of the season which interest do you have to watch games?,” Ouaddou added.

"So, I think it's what the fans want, it's what football asks [for] and the two teams are fighting and I think it's good for South African football.

Pirates will be eager to tighten the grip on the top spot when they tackle Richards Bay at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Wednesday, 11 March.