Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has shed some light on new signing Sebastian Pedersen’s situation at the club.
Just over a month after joining the Buccaneers in a blockbuster transfer deal, the Norwegian striker is yet to make his official debut.
Fans have been excited to see their new attacker in action after spotting him in training photos, leading many to wonder what the holdup is and when he will finally take to the pitch.
Now, Ouaddou has opened up on the matter ahead of this weekend’s crucial MTN8 semi-final first-leg clash against Sekhukhune United.
Pedersen no ready to go just yet
Orlando Pirates fans will have to wait a little longer before they see their new Norwegian striker lead the attack, as he is not yet fully match fit.
Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou confirmed he is taking a cautious approach with Pedersen, bearing in mind that the forward is adjusting to a completely new environment.
Speaking to members of the media this week, the Orlando Pirates mentor confirmed there’s no question marks around the new striker’s abilities and finishing however, he’s not ‘100% fit’ just yet.
“There’s the stress when you discover a new environment, you have to eat differently and so a lot of things change. It’s more of a mental thing. We have to be careful because we don’t want to risk him getting injured,” Ouaddou told reporters on Thursday.
While the club waits for Pedersen to get fully up to speed, Yanele Mbuthuma will likely continue to lead the line. Despite his recent struggles in front of goal, his work rate and positional play have been impressive so far this season.
Photo: @orlandopiratesfc/X
