Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has strongly criticised Kaizer Chiefs for their approach to the Soweto Derby and their subsequent celebration of the draw. Despite taking the lead, Chiefs could not maintain their advantage as Pirates fought back to secure a point. What drew particular ire from Ouaddou was the visible jubilation from Chiefs players and staff following the final whistle, as they ended a run of five consecutive league losses to their rivals. The Pirates boss questioned the mentality displayed by the opposition, suggesting that for a club of Chiefs' stature, securing a draw should not warrant such celebration.
Ouaddou expressed his frustration at what he perceived as a defensive, conservative gameplan from the Glamour Boys. He highlighted that Chiefs players repeatedly went down during the match and appeared content with the outcome, whereas Pirates felt they had dropped two crucial points. The coach emphasised that his opposite number should share that disappointment rather than treating the result as a victory, particularly given Chiefs' status as one of South African football's biggest institutions.
Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Tsepo Masilela aligned himself with Ouaddou's assessment, criticising Amakhosi's cautious tactical setup. Masilela argued that Chiefs overloaded their midfield out of fear of losing, which prevented them from playing attacking football and inadvertently exposed their quality gap against Pirates. The defensive approach, he suggested, severely limited their attacking potential and ultimately defined their performance in the derby encounter.