Orlando Pirates coach Abdelsam Ouaddou discusses resting Mbekezeli Mbokazi to avoid burnout.
In a strategic decision, Mbokazi, the vice-captain of Pirates, was benched during their 3-1 win over Golden Arrows at King Zwelithini Stadium on Wednesday. He made a late appearance as Ouaddou aimed to manage his playing time effectively.
The 25-year-old midfielder, key for both Pirates and Bafana Bafana in their FIFA World Cup qualification, is set to rejoin the starting lineup against Richards Bay in the upcoming Carling Knockout semi-final at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
βWe need to consider the demands of various competitions on our players,β Ouaddou commented.
βIt involves careful management β maintaining competitiveness without losing momentum through excessive changes.β
Discussing Mbokazi's workload, Ouaddou stated, βHeβs had a considerable effort this season with national and club commitments.β He confirmed that the decision to rest him was tactical, underpinning the management philosophy to optimize player performance.
The Soweto giants aim to uphold their status as South Africaβs cup champions, having secured seven domestic trophies over the last four seasons, including four consecutive MTN8 titles and three Nedbank Cups from 2022 to 2024.
Nevertheless, Ouaddou emphasized the need to respect Richards Bay, noting their previous success against Pirates in the competition.
βReaching the semi-final demonstrates their quality,
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