Is Ouaddou pulling an AB de Villiers? Pirates coach’s fatigue claims raise questions

It appears Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou may be following a path similar to that of former Proteas captain AB de Villiers after citing fatigue when discussing his future at the club.

Ouaddou has enjoyed a dream first season with the Buccaneers, guiding the Soweto giants to a remarkable treble by winning the MTN8, Carling Knockout Cup and Betway Premiership.

Despite the unprecedented success, the Moroccan tactician stopped short of committing his future to Pirates, revealing that exhaustion could influence his decision.

“People have to understand that I’m an honest man. Like I said, I’m not chasing contracts,” said Ouaddou.

“The difference between me and some other coaches is that, thanks to God, I don’t need money because I played football for 17 years. I have a choice to continue or to stop.

“Why am I saying that? Because to manage and bring happiness to millions of people at such a big club, you need to be fit and have energy.” the Pirates coach added.

“If you are tired, it’s not honest to go into another season because you are not going to be honest with such fantastic people. So, I’m just an honest coach who says things from the deepest of his heart.”

His comments immediately brought back memories of De Villiers’ shock retirement from international cricket in 2018.

At the time, the former Proteas skipper was still regarded as one of the world’s finest batsmen and was expected to lead South Africa’s charge at the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Instead, he stepped away from international cricket, citing mental and physical fatigue.

Ouaddou’s Fatigue Claims Echo AB de Villiers’ Shock Exit

“I have had my turn, and to be honest, I am tired,” De Villiers said at the time, adding that he was “running out of gas” after a 14-year international career.

The decision stunned cricket fans around the world. The controversy however deepened when De Villiers continued playing franchise cricket, including three more seasons in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

He later made himself available for selection shortly before the 2019 World Cup, but South Africa had already finalised its squad.

That sequence of events left many supporters questioning whether fatigue was the sole reason behind his retirement.

Now, Ouaddou’s comments have sparked similar speculation among Pirates fans.

While there is no evidence that the coach has already decided to leave, many supporters believe he could be preparing for a new challenge elsewhere, possibly in Europe, after significantly enhancing his reputation with a trophy-laden campaign in South Africa.

Like De Villiers before him, Ouaddou has reached the summit of success and is speaking openly about the toll that comes with operating at the highest level.

Whether his fatigue is the primary reason behind his uncertainty or simply part of a bigger picture remains to be seen. But if he does depart in the coming weeks and resurfaces at another club shortly afterwards, comparisons with De Villiers are unlikely to disappear anytime soon.