Appollis backs ex-Orlando Pirates team-mate Mofokeng after missing out on top PSL honour

Oswin Appollis says he is “happy” to have lost out to former Orlando Pirates team-mate Relebohile Mofokeng in the race for the South African Footballer of the Season award, insisting the forward fully merits the Premier Soccer League’s top individual prize.

Appollis, now a key figure at Orlando Pirates, was named Midfielder of the Season at Monday’s virtual PSL end-of-season ceremony, but saw Mofokeng take the main Footballer of the Season gong ahead of him and Mamelodi Sundowns star Teboho Mokoena.

Mofokeng, who has since completed a move from Pirates to Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, secured the award after playing a major role in helping the Buccaneers win the league title for the first time in 14 years.

Last season, Mofokeng scored 11 goals and provided nine assists in 36 appearances in all competitions. Appollis finished with slightly higher numbers in front of goal – 12 goals and nine assists in 43 matches – as Pirates added the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout trophies to their league success.

‘Whoever won, we’d be happy’

Some observers felt Appollis’s output and consistency might have swung the Footballer of the Season accolade in his favour, but the 24-year-old dismissed any sense of disappointment when speaking during Pirates’ media open day at Rand Stadium on Tuesday.

“We are teammates. Rele and I spoke about it to say whoever wins it, we’d be happy. He deserves it also, and I think Tshepang, Seema, Sipho and Mbokazi [Mbokazi] also deserved to win it,” Appollis said.

Appollis highlighted several Pirates colleagues – Sipho Chaine, Lebone Seema and Tshepang Moremi among them – as players he believes also produced campaigns worthy of consideration for the league’s premier individual award.

Team-mates credited for midfield prize

Appollis stressed that his own recognition as Midfielder of the Season was built on the collective strength of Jose Riveiro’s squad, rather than individual brilliance alone.

“I have to congratulate my teammates because without them it wasn’t going to be possible to win that award. Yes, of course, you always dream of winning individual awards, but at the end of the day you can’t win them without your teammates,” he added.

The forward’s performances were central to a dominant domestic campaign for Pirates, who completed a treble of league, MTN8 and Carling Knockout titles. His creativity and goal threat from midfield were reflected in his double-figure goal tally and matching assist return across all competitions.

Attention turns to league defence

With the awards season now over, focus at Pirates shifts back to defending their league crown and building on last term’s trophy haul.

The Buccaneers begin their new campaign on Saturday when they host top-flight newcomers Milford at Orlando Amstel Arena in their league opener.

The fixture offers Appollis and his team-mates an early chance to underline their credentials as champions, while Mofokeng prepares for a fresh chapter in Europe with Royale Union Saint-Gilloise following his breakout season in South Africa.