Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has outlined how the Buccaneers intend to move forward following the departure of star attacker Relebohile Mofokeng, insisting the club’s success will be built on the strength of the collective rather than a single individual.
Mofokeng completed a high-profile move to Belgian outfit Union Saint-Gilloise during the off-season, bringing an end to a remarkable spell at Pirates where he established himself as one of the Betway Premiership’s most exciting and influential attacking talents.
His departure leaves a significant void as the Buccaneers prepare to begin the defence of their Betway Premiership crown against newcomers Milford FC at Orlando Stadium on Saturday at 15:00.
Ouaddou acknowledged Mofokeng’s importance to the team but believes Pirates have the quality within their squad to share the creative burden.
“Rele was a very important player for the club. If you look at the data, his contribution to our chance creation was significant. However, I believe it’s important for other players to step up and take on that responsibility.
“We’re not focused on individual players—we believe in the collective. That’s what we’ve been working on during our time in Spain, trying different combinations and profiles in midfield to find the right balance.
“I believe we’ll have a good answer this weekend, and we’ll see how it unfolds.”
Rather than searching for a direct replacement, Ouaddou revealed that Pirates used their pre-season camp in Spain to experiment with different tactical combinations and midfield profiles, aiming to ensure the team remains dangerous in attack without depending on one player.
The Moroccan tactician believes the Buccaneers possess enough quality across the squad to compensate for Mofokeng’s departure, with several players expected to assume greater creative responsibility this season.
Saturday’s clash against Milford will provide the first indication of how Pirates intend to navigate life after Mofokeng. Supporters will be eager to see whether Ouaddou’s collective philosophy can maintain the club’s attacking threat as they begin their quest to retain the Betway Premiership title.
With a new era underway at Orlando Stadium, all eyes will be on the Buccaneers to see if their team-first approach can deliver a winning start to the 2026/27 campaign.
Written by: Sandile Ndumo
