Orlando Pirates manager Abdeslam Ouaddou has identified goalkeeper Sipho Chaine as a key figure in the club’s strong start to the season, with the 29-year-old continuing to provide leadership and defensive stability.
Pirates’ 1-0 victory over African Stars means they have lost only once in 15 matches in all competitions this season. They have won 12 of those games and drawn two, with their only defeat coming against Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final.
The Buccaneers have also kept 11 clean sheets during that run, underlining the defensive consistency that has made them difficult to beat.
Ouaddou believes the foundation of a successful team is built around influential players throughout the spine of the side, beginning with the goalkeeper.
“You see, in my game model, in the way that I’m coaching, I have always given importance to the whole team, of course, to the players,” said Ouaddou in his post-match press conference.
“But you always need a spine, and the spine is the goalkeeper, the pair of central defenders, the six, the ten and the nine. And I need to have a leader in every line.
“It’s important to have a well-oiled machine. You need to have strategic leaders in every line.”
Chaine’s record helps explain why he is held in such high regard by the coach and his team-mates.
During the 2024-25 campaign, he recorded nine clean sheets in 14 CAF Champions League appearances. He was also a constant presence during Pirates’ run to the Betway Premiership title last season, keeping 21 clean sheets in 30 matches.
The goalkeeper played every minute of that title-winning campaign, making him an ever-present member of the side. His performances have continued this season, with Chaine keeping seven clean sheets in eight league appearances.
His importance is also reflected in his ability to provide continuity behind the defensive line while serving as one of the leaders Ouaddou wants in each area of the team.
Chaine and his Orlando Pirates team-mates will next face African Stars in the second leg of their CAF Champions League qualifier on Friday, 23 October.
The club will then turn its attention to the Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday, 31 October.
With his clean-sheet record, consistency and role as a senior presence within the team, Chaine is firmly in the conversation as Orlando Pirates’ most indispensable player.
