Johannesburg – Shocking news coming out of Orlando Pirates camp! Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou and five other staff members are in hospital following a car accident on Sunday night. The incident occurred on the R21 highway as the team was returning from their impressive 3-0 victory against Chippa United in Gqeberha.
According to a statement released by Orlando Pirates FC, the team bus stopped at the scene of an earlier accident when the incident occurred. “Upon encountering a collision between two vehicles, coach Ouaddou and several staff members disembarked from the team bus to assist those involved,” the statement read.
Tragically, while assisting at the scene, a Nissan NP200 vehicle collided with the stationary vehicles, striking the group and causing serious injuries. Coach Ouaddou and the five affected staff members were immediately transported to hospital where they are currently receiving medical care.
Reports indicate that defender Thapelo Xoki was also injured, and goalkeeper Tyrone Damons suffered a broken leg in three places, requiring surgery on Monday. This raises serious concerns about Pirates' preparations for the upcoming MTN8 final against Stellenbosch in Nelspruit on September 13th.
The Premier Soccer League had earlier announced that the MTN8 final is officially sold out, but the focus now shifts to the well-being of Coach Ouaddou and the injured staff members. The club has yet to release further details on the extent of their injuries or the potential impact on the team's upcoming schedule.
The entire Mzansi football community sends their best wishes for a speedy recovery to Coach Ouaddou and all those affected by this unfortunate incident. We'll continue to update this story as more information becomes available.