Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou praised his players’ discipline and strong mentality as they delivered a convincing display to reward the club’s supporters after a challenging few weeks.

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The Buccaneers claimed the bragging rights after claiming a comfortable 3-0 victory over Kaizer Chiefs thanks to goals from Tshepang Moremi, Oswin Appollis and Evidence Makgopa at the FNB Stadium.

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The win saw Pirates moved back to the top of the Betway Premiership standings with 41 points from 18 matches, three points ahead of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns.

Ouaddou has expressed pride in the team’s high-intensity start, tactical discipline and strong response following a difficult period in the build-up to the clash.

“I think my boys, I’m very proud of my boys today, we started the game like exactly we wanted, we wanted to put the high pressure, to score early. What helped us to bring this game easier,” Ouaddou told SuperSport after the game.

“It was a difficult two-three weeks after the two losses, and I think they gave us a fantastic answer in this derby and I’m very proud of them and we have to keep going like that.

“It was the target, we prepared this derby very well, the guys wanted to show a great image, great qualities of Orlando Pirates in front of our fans, we wanted to make them happy. We wanted to keep the high levels of football we have shown.

“In the second half, we just made some slight changes, tactical changes because we had this problem in the half-spaces of the opponents and we have the left-winger that tried to overload on the side and the boys they really answered well.

“And what a great character, what a great personality of the boys, and I’m a happy coach tonight.”