Ouaddou, Da Cruz and the French link behind Soweto Derby rivalry

The Soweto Derby rivalry between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs has a unique French connection involving coaches Abdeslam Ouaddou and Fernando da Cruz. Both coaches have French football backgrounds; Ouaddou grew up in France and had a successful playing career there, while Da Cruz built his coaching reputation in French football.

However, their paths converged through the work of Julian Le Heran, a fitness trainer and translator who previously worked with Ouaddou at Congolese giants AS Vita Club. Le Heran is now a part of Chiefs’ technical team, creating a direct professional connection between the two camps. Both coaches also have experience in Morocco, where Ouaddou was born and Da Cruz worked at AS FAR Rabat, winning the Botola Pro title in the 2022/23 season.

While their French backgrounds offer an interesting link, their professional journeys and Le Heran’s prior collaboration with Ouaddou are the most tangible connections between the two technical teams. On Saturday, when the two teams clash in the Betway Premiership, the French connections will likely take a back seat to the desire for bragging rights.