Ouaddou: ‘When it’s a high-speed train, you need to climb in’

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Orlando Pirates new signing Thapelo Mokobodi. (Photo: Gallo Images)

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Ouaddou: ‘When it’s a high-speed train, you need to climb in’

Aug 26, 2026 – 01:16 pm
By Clifton Mabasa

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has opened up on the progress of new signing Thapelo Mokobodi, while also crediting Stellenbosch mentor Gavin Hunt for helping prepare the midfielder for life at the Buccaneers.

Mokobodi joined the Soweto giants in July from Stellenbosch, having spent part of the 2026/27 pre-season with Hunt’s side before making the move to the Sea Robbers.

As a result, he missed much of the early preparations under Ouaddou.

However, the 23-year-old is settling in quickly, and Ouaddou believes there are several reasons behind his encouraging start at the Betway Premiership defending champions.

Ouaddou already knew Mokobodi from their time together at Marumo Gallants, giving the Pirates coach a good understanding of what the player could bring to his new side.

“Look, first of all, it’s a boy that I know very well. I know his quality from my previous club. I know what he can give us, what he’s able to do,” Ouaddou told journalists.

“Physically, I think he started the pre-season in Stellenbosch with Gavin Hunt and when you know Gavin Hunt, the way that he’s playing, the way that he wants his team playing, you can guess that he had the first beginning of the preparation very good.

“So he just came with us to finish the last phase of the preparation. His style of play suits very well to the way that we want to play.

“He’s somebody that is clever. He’s somebody that integrates quickly and it’s a boy that took his chance.”

Ouaddou has also used an interesting analogy to describe Mokobodi’s opportunity at Pirates, stressing the importance of taking your chance quickly.

“I always say that when the train stops at the station, you need to climb in that train, especially when it’s a high-speed train,” he added.

“So you need to be inside because sometimes the train doesn’t stop too much every time in every station.

“So he’s in the train and I hope he will continue to grow and to improve and to be one of the key players in our system.”