Moroccan Abdeslam Ouaddou is the new Orlando Pirates head coach after the departure of the Jose ‘Spanish Guiter’ Riveiro for Egyptian side Al Ahly. Photo: Supplied

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Orlando Pirates FC has officially announced the appointment of former Marumo Gallants coach Abdeslam Ouaddou as its new head coach.

The Moroccan replaces departed coach Jose Riveiro. Who has since joined the most decorated side in Africa, Egyptian giant Al Ahly SC and is currently with the side in its campaign in the Fifa Club World Cup in the United States of America, where the outfit has not won a single game.

Al Ahly had a goalless stalemate in its opening game against US club Inter Miami, was beaten by Palmeiras 2-0 and drew 4-4 in the final game against FC Porto. Al Ahly will have to patient with Riveiro as he is that type of coach who normal starts slow as happened with the Buccaneers, which led many faithful to dispute his credentials and called for his head and even went as far as to claim that he had never coached in his life in Spain except being a conditioning expert.

But when he finally settled in and results started tickling in, the tone changed to that of praise and admiration to such an extent that many wept when the news of his imminent departure became public and described him as one of the best coaches the Sea Robbers have ever had. He may not have annexed the league in his entire stay with the Bucs but won them the MTN 8 trophy and defended the Nedbank Cup twice in a row.

Ouaddou brings in a wealth of experience to the Bucs from his playing days and his recent coaching roles. His arrival has stirred a mix of excitement and curiosity among fans and analysts alike. The technical team under Ouaddou includes assistant coaches Mandla Ncikazi and Rayaan Jacobs, goalkeeper coach Tyron Damons, and strength and conditioning coach Helmi Gueldich.

Ouaddou will have to quickly learn and adapt to the hard to please fans of The Ghost, as Pirates is also known for its bones club logo. As part of his preparation of the team for the new season and second instalment of the Betway Premiership, Ouaddou will take the team to Spain to enthuse the side into the ‘Spanish Guiter’ type of football which the Mighty Bucs seemed to have mastered under the tenure of the ‘Spanish Guiter’ himself, Riveiro.

This will be Pirates’ third consecutive international pre-season tour to Marbella, Spain, which begins on July 8 to 20, where Ouaddou will help the side engage in high-level friendly matches against European teams.

As if he had premonition about his move to Up the Bucs, Ouaddou quickly announced his departure from Gallants soon after the team concluded its last game of the season, without disclosing where he was headed to. It was not long before The Sea Robbers announced him as its new coach.