Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has likened the Betway Premiership title race to one of football’s most intense modern rivalries, comparing his side’s pursuit of Mamelodi Sundowns to the battle between Arsenal and Manchester City.
Ouaddou made the remarks after Pirates secured a 2-0 victory over Stellenbosch FC at Athlone Stadium, a result that kept their title hopes alive with only a few matches remaining in the season.
Pirates are currently second in the Betway Premiership standings on 62 points, five behind leaders Sundowns. Despite the gap, the Soweto-based side remain determined to push the title race to the final stages of the campaign.
“In every league, in every country, you see these kinds of battles,” Ouaddou said. “If you look at England, Manchester City and Arsenal are fighting—it’s the same fight we are seeing here in South Africa.”
The Moroccan coach said closely contested title races were essential for maintaining interest in the competition, suggesting that predictability could reduce fan engagement.
“It creates a lot of interest for the fans. It’s not exciting when, ten games before the end of the season, you already know who will win the league,” he explained. “If supporters can predict the champion from the beginning, they lose interest.”
Ouaddou believes Pirates have played a key role in sustaining the competitiveness of the league this season by challenging Sundowns’ dominance and ensuring the title remains undecided heading into the closing fixtures.
“This season, we are trying to bring more competitiveness. The boys have done really well so far. Let’s see what happens at the end, but the most important thing is to keep this competition going until the final day.”
The victory over Stellenbosch was also highlighted as an important measure of the team’s readiness for upcoming matches, particularly against direct rivals in the title race.
“It was a very good test for us because you never know what will happen in the next matches against direct rivals. For us, the dream is still alive.”
With momentum building, Pirates continue to apply pressure on Sundowns at the top of the table. While the leaders retain the advantage, Ouaddou’s side are intent on extending the contest for as long as possible as the season approaches its conclusion.
