Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye isn’t convinced Orlando Pirates made the right call by appointing Abdeslam Ouaddou as their new head coach.
The Moroccan was unveiled earlier this week, taking over from Jose Riveiro, who left in May to join Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
Since Ouaddou’s arrival, Pirates have already announced seven new signings and are preparing for a pre-season camp in Spain, where they’ll face several strong opponents.
Speaking on iDiski TV, Khanye warned that Ouaddou faces a tough challenge stepping into a successful Pirates setup.
“Pirates are a team full of surprises. The coach knows what he’s walking into — it’s like trying to fit a size 7 shoe into a size 3,” Khanye said. “Pirates have won five trophies recently, so replacing Riveiro’s impact won’t be easy. I was critical of Riveiro before, but he proved me wrong.”
Khanye also questioned what Pirates saw in Ouaddou based on his time at Marumo Gallants.
“I watched his Gallants team — maybe Pirates hired him because he managed to beat them once,” Khanye said. “His team played with great intensity and were arguably the fittest in the league. Our players will definitely work harder under an international coach.”
Despite finishing second behind Mamelodi Sundowns for the third season in a row, and winning the MTN8, Pirates’ 2024/25 campaign fell short of expectations — a challenge Ouaddou now faces.
