Abdeslam Ouaddou pleads with Orlando Pirates fans after eliminating Sundowns from MTN8 - 'When you have black skin, we don’t give these people time, I just ask give me time'

Orlando Pirates fought back and beat Mamelodi Sundowns via a penalty shootout at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday to advance to the final of the MTN8.

The result brought some relief to coach Abderslam Ouaddou, who had guided the Buccaneers to two Premier Soccer League defeats and a draw with Sundowns in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-finals.

That saw pressure mounting on the Moroccan before he atoned for the winless run with a league victory over Stellenbosch and then Saturday's victory.

Ouaddou asserts he was being targeted because of the colour of his skin. 

“I came alone here, I could have come with six people, a team in Europe, but I believe in African competencies, the grass is not greener elsewhere, if you profile people in South Africa, they are competent – I don’t need to bring people here," said Ouaddou as per iDiski Times.

“The problem in the mind of people, when you have black skin, straight away we don’t give these people time [to work], I just ask, give me time – I know my competencies, I’m African proud.

“It’s why I kissed my brothers [in my technical team at full-time] because they did a good job, so if I have time, maybe I can help the club, if I don’t, I will be sacked and I go as well, it’s football, it’s life, but I love my job.”

Pirates' last two games have restored the fans' trust in Ouaddou after the difficult run of form.

The Buccaneers are already being mentioned as favourites to lift the MTN8 for the fourth successive season, following fears that Ouaddou would fail to carry on from where Jose Riveiro left off.

However, the Soweto giants are not guaranteed to win this competition as they face tricky Stellenbosch in the final.

While the Buccaneers are already planning for the MTN8 final, their immediate concern is Tuesday's hosting of Orbit College in a Premier Soccer League match.

They would be out to make it two PSL victories in a row and increase their chances of winning the league title.