Abdeslam Ouaddou: I joined Orlando Pirates to "build on foundations" not to "destroy everything"

The former AS Vita and Marumo Gallants boss was brought in to replace Jose Riveiro, who led the club to five titles and three successive second-placed Betway Premiership placings.

Ouaddou only spent a short time at Gallants but impressed enough for Pirates to hand him the reins in their bid to overtake Mamelodi Sundowns and ultimately be crowned Betway Premiership champions.

Pirates are currently on 12-day pre-season tour of Spain where they will play Bolton Wanderers on July 11, Cypriot champions Pafos FC on July 13, La Liga team Las Palmas on July 17 and Granada, also of La Liga, on July 19.

Speaking ahead of departure, Ouaddou told the club's website: "Usually when a coach comes into a club, he wants to destroy everything.

"We just have to be clever and to analyse what was good and maybe to come and to bring some something, and to build on this foundation that have been well done by the previous coach and the previous coaches as well. I think it's very important to build on that.

"And the same way, a lot of people may ask again why he came alone? Of course I have staff. I'm working with the staff maybe five, six persons but I came to Marumo alone. I came alone here, and I will explain to you why. Because I believe deeply in Africans’ competencies and in South Africa, we have competencies, big universities, sport universities, people who have badges here. 

“So, if I bring somebody and I can bring because I have people who are working with me. If I bring them, which sign will I give as an African, which signal would I give, I give to the people to say, hey we are not competent.”

“So, I'm happy to work with the people who are already in the club, and I think they have a legacy and maybe we can go quicker to help the club,” he concluded.

Mandala Ncikazi, Rayaan Jacobs, Tyron Damons and Helmy Gueldich make up Ouaddou's technical team for the upcoming season.