Orlando Pirates await Oswin Appollis update before Champions League tie

Orlando Pirates are waiting for medical results on Oswin Appollis after the winger was carried off during Tuesday’s 3-0 Betway Premiership victory over TS Galaxy FC.

Appollis started at Orlando Amstel Arena, having been among the substitutes for Pirates’ 2-0 defeat by Mamelodi Sundowns in Saturday’s MTN8 final. He made an immediate contribution against TS Galaxy, setting up Boitumelo Radiopane to score the opening goal.

However, his performance was cut short when he was stretchered off in the second half, leaving head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou concerned about the player’s availability for Pirates’ upcoming fixtures.

Ouaddou said he hoped the injury was only the result of fatigue, with Appollis having regularly started for both Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana.

“It seems to be fatigue, I hope. I hope, really, because he’s one of our best players. (He’s an) important player in the group,” Ouaddou said.

The 3-0 victory came at the start of a demanding period for Orlando Pirates, who are competing on several fronts. Their CAF Champions League campaign resumes on Saturday afternoon against Namibian side African Stars.

A Betway Premiership Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs is also scheduled for October 31, increasing the importance of Appollis’s medical assessment as Ouaddou manages his squad through a crowded programme.

The coach said he had not yet received detailed information about the player’s condition after the match, but explained that the decision to remove him was made to avoid taking any further risk.

“You know that we have an important game now (on Saturday afternoon against Namibian side, African Stars) in the Champions League. We have the derby coming (a Betway Premiership encounter against Chiefs on October 31). For now (on Tuesday night), I don’t have too much information about that (Appollis being stretchered off). I just didn’t want to take risks with him,” said Ouaddou.

Appollis has become an important attacking option for Pirates, and his absence would place further pressure on the squad’s depth during their continental and domestic commitments.

Ouaddou said he had spoken to the player and the medical team before agreeing that he should not continue.

“You know, it’s a very important player (we’re talking about). When I spoke with him and with the medical department, we just decided not to take a risk, and we will assess him, and we’ll see. We’ll see, maybe tomorrow we’ll have more information about him.”