Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has revealed why Sipho Mbule is struggling to make the team’s matchday squad since the resumption of the Betway Premiership campaign.
The Buccaneers secured their maiden win in 2026 on Saturday when they emerged as 2-0 winners over Magesi FC at the Orlando Amstel Arena, with Relebohile Mofokeng and Yanela Mbuthuma scoring.
Mbule was missing from the matchday squad for the second time this year, with the Bafana Bafana international having also been omitted ahead of last weekend’s clash against Sekhukhune United.
Ouaddou stated that the absence of Mbule and Evidence Makgopa from his latest matchday squad was purely a tactical decision as Pirates have a busy schedule.
“It was the tactical choice regarding the profile of the opponents,” Ouaddou told Goal Mzansi.
“We have a lot of games coming especially next week, we have AmaZulu, we have the cup. We are going to play every after three days. So, it’s very important to manage the players.”
Pirates will be looking to make it two successive wins when they take on AmaZulu FC in a league encounter at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday.
The Soweto giants would then turn their attention to their February 7 clash against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila in the Nedbank Cup Round of 32 match scheduled to be played at the same venue.
