Marumo Gallants head coach Abdes Ouaddou believes that some of his players have what it takes to play in Europe, as the team continues to show steady improvement under his leadership.
When Ouaddou first arrived in Bloemfontein, there wasn’t much to impress him. Albeit, in his very first match in charge, his side stunned Orlando Pirates with a 2–0 victory in the Premier Soccer League in Bloemfontein. One of the first issues he identified was the squad’s poor fitness levels, which he saw as a key weakness in a team that was battling relegation at the time.
A major concern has been the club’s lack of resources. Unlike many other teams, Gallants do not have access to a full-time medical team or even a dietician, among other support structures.
In fact, the situation was so dire that only three players in the entire squad passed the most basic fitness tests when he arrived. Improving the team’s physical condition quickly became a top priority – and now, with fitness levels up, the results are beginning to reflect that hard work. The team is slowly but surely climbing up the log, putting distance between themselves and the relegation playoff zone.
With improved performances, Ouaddou is beginning to get a clearer picture of who his standout players are and who isn’t quite meeting expectations.
One player who has particularly impressed him is midfielder Masindi Nemtajela. Since taking over in March, the former Moroccan international captain has been closely monitoring Nemtajela’s progress and believes the young talent has the potential to make it in more competitive leagues abroad.
“Masindi is a top player. He wasn’t getting much game time at the start, but we focused on building the players’ confidence and ensuring they’re used in the right positions,” Ouaddou said.
“He’s still got a lot of room to grow because his development is far from complete, but to be honest, I’m very impressed by him. If he keeps working hard, I can tell you this guy could definitely play in Europe.
“I’ve coached in Europe and he’s a top, top player. He just needs to stay focused and keep pushing.”
Nemtajela has already attracted interest from other PSL clubs, including Orlando Pirates and Sekhukhune United.
Meanwhile, Marumo Gallants will be back in action on Saturday at 15:00, when they host Golden Arrows at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in a PSL fixture. – MORGAN PIEK
