Abdeslam Ouaddou was full of praise for Brandon Petersen after the Chiefs shot-stopper denied Orlando Pirates a vital Soweto Derby win. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Abdeslam Ouaddou was quick to credit Kaizer Chiefs’ defensive resistance — and in particular their goalkeeper — after Orlando Pirates were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw in the Soweto Derby at the FNB Stadium on Sunday.
Pirates’ league title push took a slight knock with the result, as they dropped valuable points in a tightly contested encounter that could prove significant in the final stretch of the Betway Premiership season. For Ouaddou, the difference on the day came down to execution in key moments — and the man between the sticks for Chiefs — Brandon Petersen.
“I think you have to give credit to their keeper; I think he did really well for them (on Sunday),” Ouaddou said.
The Pirates coach pointed to his side’s ability to create opportunities but admitted their failure to convert them ultimately cost them the chance to take maximum points from the derby.
“The most difficult thing to do in football is to create chances, and we’ve been creating a lot of chances this season. We created chances (on Sunday) and we just weren’t efficient in the final third.”
It is a familiar theme for a side that has built their campaign on attacking fluency but on this occasion found themselves repeatedly denied — both by their own finishing and by an inspired performance from Petersen. With the title race finely poised, attention inevitably shifts beyond their own result.
Pirates remain in a strong position at the top of the table, but with Mamelodi Sundowns still in pursuit and holding a game in hand, every dropped point carries added weight. Ouaddou, however, made it clear that his side’s approach will not change as the season edges toward its conclusion.
“Let’s wait and see how the other results go. The show must go on and, like I’ve always said, we’ll keep playing until the last day, minute, or second — we are here.”
Despite the frustration of the result, the message from the Pirates camp remains one of persistence — a belief that the race is far from over, even as the margins continue to tighten.