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While many coaches believe the Fifa international break halts their teams’ momentum, Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou does not believe the current recess will affect theirs.
The Buccaneers enjoyed a good run after registering five successive league wins, most recently beating Marumo Gallants 2-0 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Sunday.
As they head into the recess, Ouaddou is excited as he believes this will give his players enough time to recover well after a heavy schedule in the league, MTN8 and CAF Champions League.
“We’ve been playing for almost three days for two months,” he said.
“I always say that in a periodisation, you need to have at least a moment of regeneration break. It is very important.
“You cannot push the players until you break them, and we asked a lot of them in terms of physical effort and concentration because they have many rules to follow, the game plan, and different opposition to play.
“You have to adapt to training, and it is very difficult for the players.
“This Fifa break came at the right time to have some physiological regeneration for the players to rest and come back stronger.
“I don’t think it will break our momentum; it is necessary.”
With 19 points collected in seven matches and a point behind log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have a game in hand, Ouaddou believes they have done well, having conceded only one goal.
“We have finished the first cycle.
“When I say the first cycle, it’s since June 24, since we started until the first Fifa break.
“My boys really did well.
“We had some difficult moments since the beginning, but at least we scored a lot of goals.
“We didn’t concede too much.
“For now, if I have to give a resumé of this first cycle, it’s just well done.
“Very positive in terms of strength, commitment, organisation, and discipline.
“It’s difficult to play against Pirates.
“I have to stay humble with our team, but we can say that we have become a points machine.
“It used to be some other teams that were points machines, but this season we are playing our role of the champions, and we want to stay there, and we assume it.” — Sowetan
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