New Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has addressed his coaching credentials, drawing parallels with the side's former tactician, Jose Riveiro.
Ouaddou's appointment at Pirates has raised eyebrows in the football fraternity, especially for lack of deep track record in a managerial post.
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Ironically, Riveiro also had his first managerial task in 2019 at Finnish outfit Inter Turku, and Bucs was only his second head coach gig at a professional club.
That explains why the Spaniard's appointment was met with so much scepticism.
One of the legacies he leaves behind, though, is belief in youth and giving them an opportunity in the first team, with the emergence of Relebohile Mofokeng a prime example.
Ouaddou has addressed those particular doubts and has suggested his roots as a youth coach will keep him in good stead at his new job.
"I didn't start to be the coach in 2020, I have been a coach since 2014, I've worked six years with development. When you're working with development, you understand football because it's not easy," Ouaddou said in an interview on Pirates TV.
"I wanted to start from the low, to understand the stages of football. If I have a good player, 16, 17, 18 and he is able to bring something to the team, I will not be scared to put him, no worries about that.
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"Because a young (player) can give you energy, pace, but in the same time you need to find the right balance around the team, have the experience as well. Because sometimes in some games you need the experienced guys."
Riveiro's strong youth background having worked at Celta Vigo juniors was undermined but came to good effect with the management of youngsters at the Mighty Buccaneers.
Ouaddou cut his teeth in the youth structures of French side AS Nancy.
