Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou remains upbeat despite a frustrating 1-1 draw with Siwelele, hailing Ricardo Goss’s 11-save masterclass. The Buccaneers were held to a draw at Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon, dropping two crucial points in the title race.
The result means they now lead Mamelodi Sundowns by just one point, with the Brazilians still having a game in hand. Given those circumstances, the pendulum has swung in Sundowns’ favour as they now firmly control their destiny in the race to secure a record-extending ninth consecutive league title with 10 matches remaining.
Pirates’ Title Hopes Still Alive
Ouaddou, however, refused to concede defeat in Pirates’ quest for their first league title since the 2011/12 season, saying belief remains strong within the squad, especially after finishing runners-up in the past three campaigns. “We just have to keep going and believe,” Ouaddou said. “We still have nine games to play, and I think our boys did everything today. You could see that at the end of the game.”
After grinding out results with below-par performances in their previous matches against Polokwane City and Richards Bay, the Buccaneers actually showed improvement against Siwelele, with their only shortcoming being in front of goal. Even then, it was not due to a lack of effort. Pirates registered numerous shots on target, but goalkeeper Ricardo Goss stood firm, making 11 saves to deny them more goals and a potential victory.
Goss’s Heroics Praised by Ouaddou
Ouaddou praised Goss’s heroics, joking that the goalkeeper produced a “Messiah-like” performance to rescue Siwelele. “We have to give credit to the goalkeeper. He was the Man of the Match. We didn’t have a goalkeeper today – we had Jesus Christ in goal,” Ouaddou said. “He saved everything. I don’t know what more my players could have done. They gave everything – they had shots on target and created chances. But we had a wall in goal. He saved his team today. He had a fantastic game.”
For more information on the South African football league, visit the Premier Soccer League Wikipedia page. The league is one of the most competitive in Africa, with top teams like Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns consistently producing high-quality football.
- Orlando Pirates have 9 games left to play in the season
- Mamelodi Sundowns have a game in hand and are just one point behind Pirates
- Ricardo Goss made 11 saves to deny Pirates a win
