Ouaddou Compares Dlamini’s Quality To Zinedine Zidane
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Kabelo Dlamini during the Orlando Pirates media open day at the Orlando Amstel Arena. Photo: Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images
Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has highlighted the qualities Kabelo Dlamini could bring to the Buccaneers as the midfielder continues his long road back to full fitness.
Ouaddou was speaking during a media briefing at the Orlando Amstel Arena as Pirates finalised preparations for their second CAF Champions League preliminary round clash against La Cure Waves of Mauritius.
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The Buccaneers were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw in the first leg in Port Louis last weekend, leaving the tie finely poised ahead of the decisive encounter in Soweto.
Dlamini has not featured for Pirates since November 2025 when he featured for the last 10 minutes against Durban City at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, but the midfielder was back in training as the team prepared for the return leg, raising questions about how close he is to making his comeback.
With Pirates still looking for solutions in the number 10 position, following the departures of Relebohile Mofokeng and Patrick Maswanganyi, Ouaddou was asked whether Dlamini could provide an answer once he is ready to return.
The French-Moroccan tactician was full of praise for the 30-year-old’s attitude and the effort he has been putting in during his rehabilitation.
“Dlamini is doing a great effort every day to come back and to be available for the team. I really appreciate the great spirit that he’s showing every day in training,” Ouaddou told the media.
The Pirates coach also explained why a player with Dlamini’s characteristics can be particularly valuable in the middle of the pitch.
“These kind of players in the middle, in your team, are always important because they have a lot of creativity,” he said.
“They are able to find these kinds of passes that not everybody can find in the small space. It’s a player that is able to have a quick decision-making.”
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For Ouaddou, the ability to make decisions before receiving the ball is one of the key qualities required in the attacking midfield area.
“And like I was speaking before, in this area of the game, you need players who can take a decision before receiving the ball,” he explained.
The Pirates coach then used one of football’s greatest-ever midfielders as an example to explain exactly what he values in that position.
“I don’t want to compare him to Zinedine Zidane. But if you remember, Zinedine Zidane was not a quick player,” Ouaddou said.
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“But before receiving the ball, he knows where he’s going to give the ball. That is what we need, actually, in the middle.”
Dlamini’s return would therefore give Ouaddou another option in an area where the Buccaneers are looking for creativity and players capable of unlocking compact defences.
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