Soweto – Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says reaching the MTN8 final will count for nothing if his side fails to win the title.
The Buccaneers booked their place in the final on Saturday after a 4-1 penalty shootout victory over Mamelodi Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium. The semifinal had ended 2-2 on aggregate, forcing the tie into spot kicks where Pirates proved more composed.
Speaking to SABC Sport after the match, Ouaddou made it clear the team’s focus is on finishing the job. “Now we are going to the final we have to win it. If you go to the final and don’t win, it is nothing,” he said.
Pirates will face Stellenbosch in the final after the Cape side eliminated Sekhukhune United with a 3-1 aggregate score, following a 1-1 draw on Saturday. It will be a repeat of last year’s showdown where Pirates beat Stellenbosch 3-1 to secure the trophy for the third year running under then-coach Jose Riveiro.
Ouaddou, who replaced Riveiro after his move to Al Ahly, said the team’s penalty triumph over Sundowns was no accident. “A lot of people say it is luck. It is not luck. You have to work, we prepared for two or three weeks, shooting penalties. It is part of the job.”
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