Abdeslam Ouaddou Explains How He Is Getting the Best Out of Orlando Pirates Star Tshepang Moremi
Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has explained how he is helping Tshepang Moremi reach his full potential, revealing the tactical adjustments and personal guidance behind the winger’s impressive performances. Moremi has enjoyed an excellent start to the season, establishing himself as one of the Buccaneers’ most dangerous attacking players. The 26-year-old has already scored seven goals in 11 appearances, showing a significant improvement in his attacking output. His current form follows an impressive 2025/26 campaign, during which he scored 11 goals across the entire season. Ouaddou believes that understanding a player’s natural abilities is essential to getting the best out of them, and he has focused on building a tactical approach that allows Moremi to use his greatest strengths.
The Moroccan-French coach discussed Moremi’s development ahead of Orlando Pirates’ Carling Knockout quarter-final against Sekhukhune United. The match was scheduled to take place at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday, with the Buccaneers looking to continue their progress in the competition. Speaking at a press conference held at the Premier Soccer League headquarters in Parktown, Johannesburg, Ouaddou explained that coaching involves much more than organising training sessions and preparing tactical plans. He believes that coaches must understand the individual qualities of their players before deciding how they should fit into a team’s playing system. This philosophy has played an important role in his approach to Moremi, whose pace and direct attacking style have become valuable assets for Pirates.
Ouaddou explained that a successful coach must consider the strengths and weaknesses of individual players when developing a team’s game model. He pointed out that coaching is not limited to planning exercises, organising drills, delivering team talks or preparing tactical strategies. Analysing the profiles of players is equally important because every footballer has different qualities that can influence how a team should play. The coach argued that a system should help players perform at their best rather than force them into roles that do not suit their natural abilities. His comments also highlighted a common issue in modern football, where coaches sometimes try to copy successful tactical approaches used by Europe’s biggest clubs. For Ouaddou, the priority is to identify what makes each player special and build a system that allows those qualities to make a difference.
The Pirates coach specifically referred to the popularity of inverted wingers in modern football. Teams such as Manchester City and Barcelona have helped popularise tactical systems in which wide attackers frequently move inside to create scoring opportunities, combine with central players and threaten goal from different positions. While Ouaddou recognises the value of this approach, he does not believe every winger should be expected to play in the same way. Some players are naturally more effective when they stay wide, use their pace and attack defenders directly. Moremi fits that description because his speed allows him to create problems for opposition defenders in one-on-one situations. Rather than unnecessarily changing his playing style, Ouaddou has encouraged him to make better use of the qualities that already distinguish him.
One of the coach’s most important decisions has been to resist converting Moremi into a different type of attacking player. Ouaddou made it clear that he does not view the winger as a number 10 and has no intention of forcing him into that role. A number 10 generally operates in central attacking areas, where vision, passing, creativity and the ability to find space between defensive lines are important. Moremi, on the other hand, offers a different threat through his acceleration, movement and ability to attack from wide positions. Trying to turn him into a central playmaker could reduce the impact of the qualities that make him dangerous. Ouaddou believes the best approach is to allow Moremi to remain a winger while improving how effectively he uses his natural pace.
The coach also revealed that he had a personal conversation with Moremi to help him understand the importance of his speed. Ouaddou told the player that his pace was a special gift and something he should learn to use more efficiently. He explained that when he was a professional footballer, he could work extremely hard but could never develop the same natural speed that Moremi possesses. This comparison was intended to help the winger recognise the value of his greatest strength. Having pace alone is not enough to become an effective attacking player, as timing, decision-making and movement are also important. Moremi must know when to accelerate, when to take on a defender and when to use his speed to create space for himself or his teammates.
Ouaddou’s approach also reflects his belief that players should develop their own identities instead of attempting to imitate teammates. During his explanation, he mentioned Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appollis as examples of players with different qualities and playing styles. Both are important attacking options for Orlando Pirates, but the coach does not expect Moremi to become a copy of either player. Mofokeng has his own technical qualities and attacking characteristics, while Appollis brings a different set of strengths to the team. Moremi must therefore focus on developing the abilities that make him unique rather than comparing his performances with those of other attackers. According to Ouaddou, the winger has understood this message, and the results are beginning to show on the pitch.
This emphasis on individual identity could prove important for Orlando Pirates as they compete in domestic competitions. Modern football requires attacking players to be adaptable, but that does not mean every player must perform identical roles. A team can benefit from having wingers who offer different threats depending on the opposition and the tactical situation. Moremi’s pace gives Pirates an option when they want to attack quickly, stretch defensive lines and exploit spaces behind opposing full-backs. His ability to carry the ball forward can also help the Buccaneers move from defence into attack more effectively. By allowing him to play to his strengths, Ouaddou can create a more balanced attacking structure that gives opposition defenders different problems to solve.
Moremi’s goal-scoring numbers provide a clear indication of his growing influence at the club. Scoring seven goals in 11 appearances represents a strong return for a player whose primary role involves operating in wide attacking areas. His previous campaign also demonstrated his ability to contribute consistently, with 11 goals across the 2025/26 season. The difference in his current scoring rate suggests that he is becoming increasingly effective in the final third. However, his contribution should not be measured by goals alone because his pace and direct running can create opportunities for other attackers. When defenders are forced to concentrate on stopping Moremi, additional space can become available for his teammates.
For Orlando Pirates supporters, Moremi’s development is another encouraging sign as the club looks to remain competitive in South African football. The Buccaneers need attacking players who can make a difference in important matches, particularly when opponents defend deep and leave limited space in central areas. A quick winger who can beat defenders and attack open spaces gives the team another way to break down organised defences. Moremi’s current form could therefore become an important part of Pirates’ attacking strategy throughout the campaign. His understanding of Ouaddou’s instructions will also be crucial as opposition teams begin to pay closer attention to his movements. Continued improvement in his decision-making and finishing could make him an even greater threat.
Ouaddou’s comments also offer insight into the coaching philosophy he is bringing to Orlando Pirates. Rather than selecting a tactical system first and expecting every player to adapt to it, he wants to understand his squad before deciding how best to use its available qualities. This approach requires close observation, communication and an understanding of what motivates individual players. His conversation with Moremi demonstrates the importance of building confidence while providing clear instructions about what a player needs to improve. The coach has not simply praised the winger’s pace. He has challenged him to use it intelligently and consistently in situations where it can benefit the team. That combination of encouragement and tactical guidance appears to be producing positive results.
The relationship between Ouaddou’s tactical decisions and Moremi’s performances will be worth watching as the season progresses. The winger has already demonstrated that he can contribute goals, but maintaining his current form will require consistency and continued development. Opposition defenders are likely to study his movements more carefully as his influence grows. He will need to keep improving his timing, attacking decisions and ability to make an impact in different match situations. Pirates will also benefit from finding ways to create opportunities that allow him to use his speed effectively. If he continues to develop under Ouaddou’s guidance, Moremi could become one of the club’s most influential attacking players.
Ouaddou’s message to Tshepang Moremi is straightforward. He does not need to become Mofokeng, Appollis or another player to succeed at Orlando Pirates. He needs to understand his own qualities and use them as effectively as possible. The coach’s decision to embrace Moremi’s natural playing style rather than force him into an unfamiliar role has already coincided with an impressive improvement in his goal-scoring output. With seven goals in 11 appearances, the 26-year-old is giving Pirates plenty of reasons to be excited about his contribution this season. If he maintains his form and continues to apply Ouaddou’s instructions, Moremi could become an even bigger attacking asset for the Buccaneers.
