Orlando Pirates receive positive Oswin Appollis update ahead of African Stars tie

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says Oswin Appollis is making encouraging progress, but insists the winger will not be rushed back into competitive action.

Appollis returned to training before Pirates’ CAF Champions League second leg against African Stars, providing a boost for the Buccaneers as they assess his readiness.

The session was used to test how the player was responding physically, with particular attention paid to his movement during the warm-up. Ouaddou said the club wanted to establish whether Appollis could sprint without discomfort.

“I’m happy that he was in training, the target was to see what he can do, in the warm-up to see if he can sprint, it’s good news, he said he doesn’t feel pain,” Ouaddou said.

Although the initial signs are positive, the coach made it clear that Appollis’ involvement will depend on the player’s condition rather than the importance of the fixture.

The Morocco-born coach stressed that Pirates have no intention of taking unnecessary risks with one of their key players, particularly with several demanding matches ahead.

“But you must understand Oswin is an important player of the team, they are all Ferraris, we need to take care of the engines very well. I don’t want to risk any players ahead of these important games, or burn anything…”

Ouaddou’s comments reflect a cautious approach to managing the squad during a congested period. Pirates are competing on several fronts, with the Soweto Derby approaching and a Carling Knockout Cup meeting with Milford scheduled for next week.

That workload means Appollis’ return will be judged carefully. His participation in training is an encouraging step, but it does not guarantee that he will be selected for the African Stars match.

The winger’s ability to complete the session without feeling pain will nevertheless reassure Pirates, who will want him available for the important fixtures still to come.

A decision on whether Appollis features in the CAF Champions League second leg or is protected for a later match has yet to be made. For now, his return to training and pain-free sprinting represent the latest positive indications for the Soweto side.