How Ouaddou Borrows Thierry Henry’s Father’s Playbook To Drive Pirates
Thierry Henry scored four or five goals and came home to hear it wasn’t enough. Abdeslam Ouaddou says that is exactly the mentality he wants to instil at Orlando Pirates.
Following Pirates’ 2-1 Soweto Derby win over Kaizer Chiefs, the animated Moroccan explained the passion behind his touchline reactions. His demands for excellence, he insisted, come from wanting the best for his players and the club.
“It’s not easy to do this job. When you played for 17 years and then decide to become a coach, especially at a big club like Pirates, you want the best for your team and your club. I am driven by excellence,” he said.
To explain his approach, Ouaddou turned to the story of the former Arsenal and France striker, Thierry Henry, whose father was never satisfied.
Henry was a special guest at the Soweto Derby last weekend, and was seen having a deep conversation with Ouaddou before the game.
“I had my friend Thierry Henry here. I was reading his book and he said his father was never happy when he was young, playing in a youth team in Paris. I think in Clairefontaine, he was scoring four or five goals and when he came home, he was expecting his father to congratulate him, but he was told it was not enough.
“He was telling him he should score more. So, I’d like to push my players for excellence, to be better and better. As a big brother and a coach, you want the best for the players, but of course, on the side, you can see the emotion of someone who wants to win.”
Ouaddou admitted his intensity does not land the same way with everyone. Some players use it as fuel, while others may find it hard to respond at first.
“In some players, depending on their profile, my emotion can push them to be the best and for some who have a weak mentality, when they see the emotion of the coach, they can be surprised, but high level is a lot of emotions and pressure. And you have to manage these emotions.”
The results suggest it is working. Pirates are unbeaten in the league, and the derby win over Chiefs only adds to the evidence.