Orlando Pirates coach Abdelsam Ouaddou expressed his satisfaction with striker Tshegofatso Mabasa, who scored his 50th goal for the club, but he was also quick to praise the entire squad after their 2-0 victory over TS Galaxy in the Betway Premiership at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday.
The victory, which saw the Buccaneers secure their fifth consecutive league win (and eighth across all competitions), propelled them into third place in the standings.
Goals and Milestones
Mabasa, who came on as a substitute for first-half penalty scorer Evidence Makgopa, sealed the result with a goal in added time.
He guided a header from a Deon Hotto cross into the net. This landmark goal was Mabasa’s 50th in Pirates colours, achieved in 139 matches across all competitions.
The win moves Pirates to 15 points after seven matches. They now sit six points behind log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns (who have played three more games) and five points behind second-place Sekhukhune United (who have played two more games).
Coach’s Comments on Squad Management
Ouaddou highlighted the team’s spirit and the importance of squad rotation.
“Yeah, I’m happy for Mabasa. As I told you, I have fantastic boys in the dressing room, very united, very good team spirit,” Ouaddou stated.
Addressing his management strategy, he added: “The management of the players, I think it’s normal for such a big club. When you have such talented players, you need to think about the rotation and try to give time for every player to be involved in the project. It’s very important.”
Upcoming Fixture
Pirates will now shift their focus to cup action, as they prepare to host Siwelele in the Carling Knockout Round of 16 at Orlando Stadium on Saturday at 15:00.
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