Kaizer Chiefs fitness trainer Julian Le Heran once worked with Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou at AS Vita Club in Congo, IOL reported. The two teams meet in the Soweto Derby on Saturday.
Le Heran is also the translator at Chiefs. His time with Ouaddou gives the two camps a direct professional link before the match.
Ouaddou was in charge of Vita Club during 2024. He then moved to Marumo Gallants and later joined Pirates.
Both head coaches also have backgrounds in French football, according to the report. Ouaddou will test his tactics against Chiefs coach Fernando da Cruz on Saturday.
Ouaddou was born in Morocco and moved to France as a young child. He grew up in Jarville-la-Malgrange, near Nancy, where his football journey began. He later joined AS Nancy-Lorraine.
The former Morocco international played for French clubs including Nancy, Rennes and Valenciennes. He also had spells in England, Greece and Qatar.
Da Cruz was born in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, in the Lille metropolitan area of northern France. He built much of his coaching reputation in French football.
He had several spells at Lille, working in scouting and youth development. He then took charge of the club’s reserve side. He also spent a period at Belgian club Royal Excel Mouscron.
Ouaddou played at Valenciennes between 2006 and 2008. That club is fairly close to Lille, where Da Cruz worked during his coaching career.
The report said there is no publicly established evidence that the two coaches worked together in France. It also found no evidence that they built a personal relationship there.
Both men later built coaching careers in Africa before arriving in the Betway Premiership.
Da Cruz had a spell at Moroccan club AS FAR Rabat. He won the Botola Pro title there in the 2022/23 season. He then worked with the Moroccan Football Federation.
Ouaddou took charge of clubs in Morocco, Benin and the Democratic Republic of Congo before he came to South Africa.
Both coaches are now based in Johannesburg, where they lead two of the country’s biggest football clubs. Pirates and Chiefs meet in the derby on Saturday.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.