Orlando Pirates favourites for Soweto Derby says coach Ouaddou

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says his side are favourites for Saturday's Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs, citing their unbeaten league start and dominant form.

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has declared his side favourites for Saturday's Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs. The Buccaneers head into the first league derby of the season second in the Premier Soccer League with 22 points from eight games, one point behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.

Ouaddou's confidence stems from a formidable start that has seen his team win seven and draw one of their league matches, scoring 19 goals and conceding just one. Both sides warmed up for the clash with 3-0 Carling Knockout Cup victories on Tuesday, with Pirates defeating Milford FC and Chiefs overcoming TS Galaxy. Tshepo Moremi, the club's top scorer with four goals this season, netted a brace in that cup win.

Chiefs Seek Historic Derby Victory

Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz is aiming for his first Soweto Derby win, describing the fixture as South Africa's most important game. His team has drawn five of their last six league matches before the midweek cup success. Orlando Pirates, the reigning champions who ended a 14-year title drought last season, have won one and drawn one of their two previous encounters with their great rivals.

Urgent Preparation for High-Stakes Clash

Despite the favourites tag, Ouaddou has demanded rapid improvement from his squad. He conducted a detailed video analysis session on Wednesday, focusing on tactical and behavioural adjustments. "We show the things that we did well and the things that we can improve," the Moroccan-born coach said. "And we need to improve them quickly."

Ouaddou warned that delays could be costly in a tight title race. "We don't have time in football. If I'm waiting until December to improve these things, maybe it's too late," he stated. He stressed that player behaviour, values, and pride in the club badge are foundational, and that players must deserve to represent a club of Orlando Pirates' stature. He also acknowledged the positive impact of Kaizer Chiefs' new technical team, cautioning that being favourites does not guarantee victory.

The Buccaneers are on a four-game winning run across all competitions, a sequence you can review on our fixtures page. They host a Chiefs side sitting fifth in the table at Orlando Stadium on Saturday, 31 October.