Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has delivered a pointed message on standards and mentality after the defending champions cruised into the Carling Knockout Cup quarter-finals with a 3-0 victory over Milford FC at Orlando Amstel Arena on Tuesday night.

Thapelo Mokobodi opened the scoring in the 16th minute before Tshepang Moremi struck twice — including a stoppage-time goal — to put the tie beyond doubt before half-time.

The result keeps Pirates on course to defend the trophy they won last season, and comes just days after they secured CAF Champions League group-stage qualification.

In the post-match press conference, Ouaddou made clear that a comfortable scoreline does not automatically satisfy him. He had wanted his team to score even more in the second half.

He stressed that every player given an opportunity must deliver immediately, because second and third chances are not guaranteed at a club of Pirates’ size.

“I have all the time starters and impact players. Me, I don’t have any substitutions,” Ouaddou said. “The guy that I bring, I give him a chance.

“He needs to apply himself because maybe he will not have a second chance or the third chance. You can feel that it’s hard, but I’m sorry, this is the high level.”

He framed the demand in the context of the club’s vast support base across South Africa and the continent.

“When the duty calls you, you have to apply yourself because we have millions of fans, millions of lovers of Pirates,” he added.

“Everywhere we go in South Africa, they are waiting for us. They open their arms for us. They have a big heart for us, and we cannot disappoint all these people. Not only in South Africa — we cannot disappoint people who love Pirates in all of Africa.”

Ouaddou referenced the possibility of an even heavier scoreline against Milford, noting that the side is well-coached and organised, but insisted Pirates must still show clear superiority.

“This is the mentality that we need to have. If we have to put eight goals against Milford, we have to show Milford that we are not playing in the same level.

“But now you leave this team — with all the respect, I respect because I already said that they are well coached, I like the coach, very humble, they have some good players — but now you give him hope.

“They come here and you leave people coming in the arena saying, ‘Hey, we could have done better.’”

He rejected any notion that the Pirates badge alone is enough. “I don’t want to let people saying that Pirate is only a name,” he added.

“We cannot say that. We can’t let people say that. So that’s why I’m angry. When we wear this shirt with this badge of Pirates, hey, you need to transform yourself in every game. I’m not here to nurse anybody. I don’t have time.”

The comments have already sparked reaction among supporters, with some linking the coach’s hard line on opportunities and impact to limited minutes or expectations around midfielder Mthetheleli Mthiyane, who arrived from Stellenbosch ahead of the season.

Pirates now turn their attention to Saturday’s Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs, with Ouaddou’s message clear that the same uncompromising standards will apply regardless of the opponent or the competition.

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