Pirates will bounce back after painful MTN8 loss, vows Ouaddou

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is confident that his team will recover from their recent defeat by Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 tournament. The Buccaneers fell short of securing a fifth consecutive MTN8 title, losing 2-0 to the Brazilians at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday. Ouaddou acknowledged the team's disappointment, noting that it could serve as a valuable learning experience for his squad as they prepare to compete in the Carling Knockout, Nedbank Cup, Betway Premiership, and CAF Champions League.

Despite the loss, Ouaddou expressed his belief that his players are ready for the upcoming challenges. He emphasized that the team possesses talented individuals who will be instrumental in their success. Pirates and their fans can count on Ouaddou and his team to be prepared for the next games, according to the coach.

Pirates previously secured a dominant league double over Galaxy last season, winning 2-0 at home and later defeating The Rockets 6-0 in Mbombela Stadium. This victory extended their unbeaten run against Galaxy to four games, with three wins and just one game without a maximum point haul. Galaxy's last triumph over Pirates dates back to May 2024, when they managed to score a solitary goal in the second half.

Galaxy winger Seluleko Mahlambi expressed his team's confidence going into the match, highlighting that they are eager to get their season back on track. Currently, Galaxy sits 12th in the league standings with only six points from seven games played, while Pirates lead the table with 19 points after the same number of matches.