Abdeslam Ouaddou Eyes Tough Opening Fixtures as He Embarks on Orlando Pirates Journey
Newly appointed Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou will be fully aware of the challenges that lie ahead after the release of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership fixture list. Currently overseeing pre-season training in Spain, the Moroccan-French tactician is preparing to navigate a demanding opening month with the Soweto giants, starting in early August.
While he already knew his first competitive test would be against Polokwane City in the MTN8 quarterfinal at Orlando Stadium on August 2, the full schedule now provides a clearer picture of what’s to come. Pirates will begin their league campaign with a clash against Sekhukhune United on August 9, followed closely by fixtures against Marumo Gallants (August 12), Stellenbosch FC (August 20), Orbit College (August 26), and Chippa United (August 31).
For Ouaddou, this will be his introduction to the fast-paced demands of top-flight South African football. The former Nancy youth coach is stepping into the most high-profile role of his career so far, and the expectations are enormous. Orlando Pirates fans are famously passionate and loyal, but history shows that patience can wear thin when results are not immediate. Ouaddou will have to hit the ground running.
The Soweto Derby, one of the most anticipated events in South African sport, will once again test nerves later in the season. The first league meeting between Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs is scheduled for February 2026, with the return leg set for April. By the time the first Derby rolls around, the MTN8 and Carling Knockout will have been decided, and the Nedbank Cup will be underway. If Pirates repeat last season’s CAF Champions League run, they’ll also be preparing for a quarterfinal clash around the same period.
These high-stakes competitions will serve as a litmus test for Ouaddou, who now becomes the latest in a long line of men tasked with leading one of Africa’s most iconic football clubs. Since the birth of the PSL in August 1996, only nine coaches—Viktor Bondarenko, Gordon Igesund, Roy Barreto, Kosta Papic, Rudi Krol, Eric Tinkler, Micho Sredojevic, Josef Zinnbauer, and most recently Jose Riveiro—have managed to stay in the job for a full season.
It’s a role with immense pressure, but Ouaddou has been backed in the transfer market. Pirates have reinforced their squad with an impressive list of new signings, including Oswin Appollis, Sipho Mbule, Sihle Nduli, Tshepo Mashiloane, Kamogelo Sebelebele, Yanela Mbuthuma, Sinoxolo Kwayiba, Masindi Nemtajela, Tshepang Moremi, and Nkosikhona Ndaba. The blend of youth and experience will give the coach the tools to shape a competitive side.
As the season edges closer, the spotlight will intensify on Ouaddou. The challenge is enormous—but so is the opportunity to etch his name into the Buccaneers’ storied legacy.
