Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has opened up on the moment he tendered his resignation just weeks into his tenure.
The comments follow a few days after the Moroccan cliched the South African top division title for the Buccaneers.
WHEN DID ABDESLAM OUADDOU RESIGN AT ORLANDO PIRATES?
The Sea Robbers sealed the Betway Premiership title with a commanding 2-0 win over Orbit College on Saturday, completing a remarkable domestic treble after also lifting the MTN8 and Carling Knockout earlier in the campaign.
It is a feat that places Ouaddou in rare company, becoming the first coach since Ruud Krol to guide the club to such a clean sweep of domestic honours in a single season.
Yet the story of the campaign began far from silverware celebrations. Just two matches into his spell, the Moroccan-French coach had already offered to walk away.
“I would not lie to people, and today I will not get you the results,” Ouaddou told the media. “So when I lost those two games, I didn’t have a choice but to propose my resignation to my management.
“I am an honest man. I am not chasing contracts or money. I am doing the job for love.” He admitted that pressure and early results pushed him to a breaking point, even preparing to leave the country and step away from the project entirely.
“If people don’t like me, what can I do? I just have to give my resignation and don’t ask for anything. I shake hands, take my flight and go back to France,” he added.
APPRECIATION FOR ORLANDO PIRATES MANAGEMENT
But Pirates’ leadership had other ideas. Instead of accepting his resignation, the club hierarchy backed their coach and urged him to continue. “We listened to you, and we know exactly that you are the man who can lead us to the Promised Land,” Ouaddou said.
That backing, he believes, became the turning point in a season that shifted from uncertainty to dominance. “So credit has to be given to them… maybe in other clubs, they would chase you after two games,” he said.
Despite the success, Ouaddou declined to discuss his long-term future, instead pointing to fatigue after a demanding campaign.
DO YOU BELIEVE HE IS STAYING?
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