The Orlando Pirates treble winning coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, said that he’s tired and needs energy because without it, Will be difficult to continue next season and spoke of the pressure of leading Orlando Pirates and based on my skill of not only listening to what the person is saying but also what he’s not saying, I can tell you for free that the Moroccan – French tactician will ask the club to sign him at least one prolific goalscorer even though won’t be easy since the club doesn’t want spent 10-20 million on a striker of which could see the coach having to agree to disagree with the management going into next season.

The coach said ” I’m tired. We will sit and talk about next season about what can happen. I need energy, I need power. Without energy, it will be difficult to continue”.

While many believe that the coach is referring to money /salary increase, I strong believe that it has more to do with the club signing quality striker/s to help him bring trophies again next season. Around the January transfer window, the coach indirectly spoke of the club needing to sign a top striker and admitted that they don’t come cheap as that means that the club should spend 10 to 20 million to find one but at the same time admitted that the club prefers to promote from within and it was clear even then that the coach really felt that an international goalscoring machine is needed.

Interference with the coach it’s not something that can also be ruled out as we heard when the SABC sport presenter asked Mpumi Khoza about the coach during the handing over of the check, saying that it’s more about the systems put in place by the club and saying it’s a collective effort as he couldn’t just give the coach the respect and appreciation he deserves for delivering the first league title in 14 years. Winning the league without signing any top striker, is most likely to make Bucs management not to see the need to spend big on a striker even going back into the Caf champions league.

WHY MABASA SHOULD TURN DOWN BUCS’ CONTRACT?

Orlando Pirates Football Club’s prolific centre forward Tshegofatso Mabasa is currently out on loan at Stellenbosch FC and apparently, the club is looking to start negotiations with his agency over a new contract and I strongly believe that the former Bloemfontein Celtic left footed centre forward should decline the offer except that he’s guaranteed a certain some minutes especially when Abdeslam Ouaddou remains in charge because it’s clear that he’s not the type of a forward that the coach prefers.

Mabasa may not be aggressive like Makgopa and Mbuthuma in pressing from the top but he’s by far the best finisher in the books of the club currently and under Jose Riveiro, Mabasa played and scored because the coach understood his strengths and played him to those strengths and if Abdeslam Ouaddou cannot do that, the club mustn’t waste the boy’s time by renewing his contract. The other day I watched Mabasa playing Soweto Derby pressing aggressively from the top creating space for Saleng in that 3-2 win where Saleng scored brace and sometimes I think that there’s an exeggeration in saying Mabasa can’t press.

Having Mabasa in the team requires that the team presses high to remain in the opponents half most of the time as that gives him more time to be higher up in ad around the box where he’s deadly. Currently, Orlando Pirates is more transitional and Mabasa doesn’t have explosive speed to keep up with those quick transitions especially when forced to make runs from deeper and based on that, it’s clear Mabasa is not suitable and shouldn’t renew his contract. Unless if the coach is willing to set up the team to MABASA’S strengths with a Clause that guarantees him certain number of minutes.

Mabasa is an experienced striker with a proven goalscoring record and should know that he’s in the right position to negotiate new contract on his terms. He has a record to break at Bucs and that alone it’s appealing but how can he break that record when he’s on the stands? He must be very selfish in negotiating a new contract because he’s no longer a youngster looking to prove a point to anyone except improving everyday like any other sportsman.