Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has delivered a candid assessment of the physical demands in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), suggesting that a lack of physicality is holding South African players back.
The Moroccan tactician believes his side has struggled most against teams that impose themselves physically, pointing to several difficult encounters this season.
“In modern football, you sometimes have to adapt to physicality, and the best examples of that are matches played outside the country,” said Ouaddou as per iol.co.za.
“The type of football you encounter internationally is different, and you have to adjust accordingly.”
Orlando Pirates coach Ouaddou on PSL players
“If you look at the games where we were in trouble this season, they were matches where we were challenged in duels and physical battles against Richards Bay, Siwelele, and in the Soweto Derby.”
Ouaddou emphasised that players who may not match their opponents in strength must compensate with intelligence and technical awareness.
“If you do not have the physicality, then you have to be very good at scanning, moving the ball, and understanding what to do in high-pressure areas before you even receive possession,” he added.
Ouaddou has won two trophies in his debut season for Pirates but missed out on the CAF Champions League.
The Bucccaneers struggles against physically dominant opposition were also evident in their CAF Champions League campaign. The Buccaneers suffered a 3-0 defeat to DR Congo side Saint-Éloi Lupopo in the first leg of their preliminary round tie.
Although Pirates responded with a 3-0 victory in the return leg, they were ultimately eliminated on penalties, with many observers noting their difficulty in coping with Lupopo’s physical approach.