Another Orlando Pirates master tactician Abdeslam Ouaddou is the man most likely to lead the Carling All Stars side into battle with the winner of the Carling Knockout, that is, if the Sea Robbers don’t have it their way against Bahlabane ba Ntwa. Photo: Sipho Siso

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Previously vilified coach of Orlando Pirates Abdeslam Ouaddou leads the pack of coaches in the voting race towards being nominated to take charge of the Carling All Stars team that will clash with the eventual winners of the Carling Knockout trophy.

If Ouaddou continues to lead the pack until the close of voting, he will be the man to mentor the Carling All Stars side in a clash with the triumphant side in the final of the Carling Knockout taking place at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on December 6.

Ouaddou had been severely criticised by fans and media scribes, some of whom had called him names, saying he was not a coach but a plumber. Today, after initially losing two or so opening games of the league, they sing his praises and are eating from the palm of his hand.

If the Mighty Buccaneers lift the trophy against Marumo Gallants on the day, then Ouaddou automatically becomes unavailable for the position of coach of the All Stars side, and instead, his nearest rival in the votes accumulation, currently Golden Arrows’ Manqoba Mngqithi, will automatically be considered as the mentor to take the All Stars side.

The current third person in the coaching votes received so far is Mamelodi Sundowns’ Miguel Cardoso but anything can happen between now and December 1, when the voting closes.

Addressing the media on the latest developments in the voting system, Carling Black Label brand director Kerryn Greenleaf said this year they had received the highest number of voters for all the voting facets of the competition, standing at 6,5million and counting until the closing date on December 1.

“Once the voting process closes on December 1, we’re going to open the lines for fans to vote their champion skipper for the All Stars side,” Greenleaf said.

Former Pirates coach Jose ‘Spanish Guitar’ Riveiro, who has been twice voted the coach of the All Stars outfit, has been roped in as one of the ambassadors of the Carling Knockout campaign.

Speaking at the media briefing, the astute tactician said he was hoping both teams, who are loaded with hard runners in their ranks, would be able to produce a match of football spectacle for the lovers of the beautiful game on December 1.

“We’re all keeping our fingers crossed for a spectacular game of football on the day worth the hard-earned money the spectators will pay when they purchase their tickets for the game,” he said.

When asked whether he was available for the coaching job of local teams in the Betway Premiership, Riveiro said he was not available. “I am a Buccaneer through and through and would not want to coach any other team but if a Bafana Bafana job becomes available, I would consider it,” he hinted.

All roads will lead to Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba Stadium on December 1 for the clash of the titans in Marumo Gallants and Orlando Pirates, and the winner is anybody’s guess.