{
  "id": 17341177,
  "title": "Ouaddou, Da Cruz and the French link behind Soweto Derby rivalry",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/ouaddou-da-cruz-and-the-french-link-behind-soweto-derby-rivalry",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-31T05:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/sport/soccer/2026-10-31-ouaddou-da-cruz-and-the-french-link-behind-soweto-derby-rivalry/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "Orlando Pirates captain Nkosinathi Sibisi has expressed confidence in the club's younger players ahead of the Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium. Speaking in Randburg on Thursday, Sibisi stated that the match will offer valuable experience for the youngsters before the club's CAF Champions League campaign. He noted that the players have shown glimpses of their capability and respond well to guidance.\n\nBoth clubs enter the matchup unbeaten in the Betway Premiership this season. While Sibisi acknowledged that Kaizer Chiefs have not lost in the league, he emphasized the need for his team to focus on their own performance to secure a result.\n\nAccording to IOL, there are professional connections between the teams involving French football backgrounds shared by Abdeslam Ouaddou and Fernando da Cruz. Additionally, Chiefs fitness trainer Julian Le Heran has a prior working relationship with the Pirates coach.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "Three key players for Orlando Pirates in Soweto derby",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/three-key-players-for-orlando-pirates-in-soweto-derby",
        "published": "2026-10-30T13:21:34.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}