Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam has made all of his doubters eat humble pie after delivering a trophy for the Buccaneers in his maiden campaign. There were plenty of sceptics when the Moroccan took over the reins from Spanish coach Jose Riveiro, who had enjoyed plenty of success with the Sea Robbers.
The Soweto giants last won the Premier Soccer League title in 2012 and have been finishing as runners-up to Masandawana for the last three seasons. Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is tasked to break the Brazilians' dominance of the PSL after his predecessors like Jose Riveiro, Rhulani Mokwena, Muhsin Ertugral, Eric Tinkler, Roger de Sa, Milutin Sredojevic and Josef Zinnbauer failed to deliver the biggest trophy in South African football.
Despite his reign with the Sea Robbers starting on shaky ground, the tactician has succeeded in stabilising the team and just defended their domestic trophy.
The Buccaneers dominated extra time, shutting down every threat from the Cape Winelands side to successfully defend their title for a fourth consecutive year.
At just 19 years old, the bulky youngster has been making headlines owing to his mature showings for both the Buccaneers and Bafana Bafana. Is he the next big thing coming from Mzansi football?
The Soweto giants have now secured four titles in as many years! Stellies ran out of the gas in the extra time as Abdeslam Ouaddou got a relief after being involved in an accident.
The winger has been excellent in the top-tier after getting a grrenlight to extend his deal with the current team. The attacker is just among the many talents that have been coming out of the Bucs feeder club.
The Sea Robbers waited until extra time to put the game beyond doubt, scoring three times to extend their MTN8 dominance and claim yet another title in front of a packed Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, 13 September.
The Soweto giants have become the dream club for a player who has made his mark in England and is regarded as one of the best in his position on the African continent. He has made the Sea Robbers his priority team and does not see himself playing for any other Premier Soccer League side. The star midfielder, however, seems to still some years playing in Europe.
The Soweto giants come up against the Cape Winelands side on neutral ground and the winner becomes the first team to win a piece of silverware this season. That makes the stakes very high in this battle against the two ambitious teams. The Buccaneers are this competition's defending champions as they face the Maroons who they beat in last seasom's final.
In a bid to win and make history in the domestic competition, Ouaddou has been urged to field certain players that are capable of outclassing Stellies.
Despite changing coaches, a former Bucs star believes there are positive signs the Sea Robbers are on the right path, and thus the Tshwane giants must be worried.
Abdeslam Ouaddou had the luxury of joining Orlando Pirates after at a time when chairman Irvin Khoza was in the mood to open up his cheque book, and now we look at how the players have performed so far and we rank them.
The 73-year-old is already the 1996 African champions' longest-serving coach and he has said that the South Africa job is his last before he retires from coaching.
Stellenbosch FC
