Orlando Pirates Extend Unbeaten Run to Eight Games with 1-0 Carling Knockout Win Over Stellenbosch

Orlando Pirates maintained their unbeaten streak at eight matches following a 1-0 Carling Knockout victory over Stellenbosch FC at Orlando Stadium on Saturday. Defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi scored the decisive goal, helping the Buccaneers advance to the quarter-finals while preserving their remarkable run of clean sheets across all eight games.

Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou urged his squad to stay humble despite their impressive form. He highlighted the professional standards at Pirates, which have impressed him since his appointment.

During a post-match press conference, Ouaddou reflected on the early criticism he faced and how it motivated him to prove his competence. He emphasized pride in working on the African continent and contributing his experience to the players and club.

“Very fast to judge people, but we are in a very big ecosystem in the world, and we know the business, and only results are very important. But it is very important not to have doubts about your competence and what you can bring to our continent. I’m a very proud African. I’m a very proud ex-player and very proud to work on our continent and to bring my competence and my knowledge for the players and for the club. And I’m very happy to share this moment with the fans,” Ouaddou said.

The former Morocco international noted that early criticism and negative comments from some fans only strengthened his resolve. “It just pushes me to give my best for the players, for the club, and it is what it should be. I love my job, I love my players, I love the club because the club is giving me everything to work well,” he added.

Ouaddou also praised Pirates’ professional structure, comparing it favorably to clubs across Africa and Europe. “It is one of the best clubs in Africa, and I can tell you even in Europe, the way Orlando Pirates are working, the way the club is managed, I don’t see many clubs in Europe managed like that,” he said.

Despite the strong start to the season, Ouaddou stressed the importance of humility. “Things are going so fast, we have to stay humble, and any time you can have a bad moment, even at that time, you don’t have to doubt about your competence to continue. It is our daily work, and I will continue like that until maybe 70 years old,” he said.

Pirates’ defensive consistency, with eight consecutive clean sheets, has been a key factor in their unbeaten run and positions them strongly for the next phase of the Carling Knockout.