Bucs Fire Warning Shot in Spain, But it’s Joburg They’re Hungry For

After closing out their Spanish preseason tour with a 2-0 win over Granada, Orlando Pirates have their eyes set firmly on Johannesburg and their fans.

The sun has set on Orlando Pirates’ Spanish preseason tour, and it did so in style. The Buccaneers ended their European camp with a clinical 2-0 win over LaLiga side Granada on Saturday evening at the Marbella Football Centre, with late goals from Patrick Maswanganyi and Relebohile Mofokeng sealing the result. But if there’s one thing coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is more excited about than the win, it’s the buzz of heading back home.

“We are very impatient to go back to Johannesburg to play in front of our fans who are waiting for us,” Ouaddou told the club’s media team. “They want to see this new team — and we can’t wait either.”

Building Blocks in Spain

The Pirates’ preseason journey through Spain was never just about results — and that’s a good thing. They opened their tour with a 2-0 loss to England’s Bolton Wanderers, then ground out a 1-1 draw against Cypriot champions Pafos. A goalless match against Las Palmas followed, before they found their rhythm in their final clash against Granada.

It was always about testing combinations, boosting match fitness, and giving Ouaddou his first proper look at the squad since stepping into the hot seat.

“I had trust in the players from the beginning,” he said. “Step by step, we finished this camp with a victory. That’s good because it gives the guys confidence going into the season.”

The coach’s focus was clear: create chances, stay united, and sharpen the team’s attacking edge. Saturday’s result was proof that those pieces are starting to come together.

Local Anticipation Builds

With just under two weeks to go until the MTN8 quarterfinals, the excitement back home is palpable. Pirates will face Polokwane City at Orlando Stadium on 2 August, and the fixture promises to mark the beginning of a new chapter under Ouaddou’s leadership.

On social media, fans have already begun sharing their optimism. “We saw signs of fluid football. Let’s bring that energy to Orlando!” wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter), while another added, “Relebohile Mofokeng is going to have a breakout season. Watch this space.”

Ouaddou isn’t oblivious to the expectation. The preseason gave him a taste of the squad’s potential, but local fans will want more than promise — they’ll want results.

A Team in Transition, a City Watching

This Spanish tour wasn’t just a training getaway. It was a signal that Pirates are taking the 2025/26 campaign seriously. New signings were tested, systems were tweaked, and despite a rocky start, the Buccaneers ended on a high.

Now, as the team prepares to fly back to Joburg and regroup ahead of the season opener, one thing is certain: the real test begins at home, in front of a roaring Soweto crowd that expects nothing less than silverware.

Source:Business Day Live

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