ORLANDO Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has urged his troops to keep their heads high after their painful defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns, saying the Betway Premiership race is far from finished.
The Buccaneers saw their impressive 11-match winning streak come to an end when the Brazilians edged them 2-1 in a blockbuster clash at a packed FNB Stadium on Wednesday night, 18 February.
A first-half brace from Brayan León handed the defending champions a crucial victory, while Patrick Maswanganyi pulled one back for the Sea Robbers in the second half.
The result saw Masandawana cut the gap at the top to just three points, and they still have a game in hand.
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Despite the setback, Ouaddou refused to hit the panic button.
"We still have many games to play, around 13 or 14 matches. In football anything can happen. There can be many surprises. For us, it's about continuing to work hard and giving everything on the pitch," said the 47-year-old Moroccan mentor.
Ouaddou admitted the defeat was a tough pill to swallow but insisted it should not define their season.
"We have to fight until the end of the league. That is the message I want to give. The PSL is a very good league with strong teams. This is a scenario we wanted to avoid, but it happened. It's not the end of the world. We must keep working and keep believing," he said.
Pirates remain top of the log, but the pressure is mounting as Sundowns breathe down their necks.
There's no time to sulk, though. Attention now shifts to the Nedbank Cup Last 16 this Saturday, 21 February.
Sundowns will lock horns with TS Galaxy, while Pirates face Casric Stars as both Gauteng giants look to keep their silverware dreams alive.
With the league race heating up and cup action calling, Mzansi football fans are in for a thrilling ride.
