Mosimane set to play ‘fatigued’ Appollis in Kenya qualifier

Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane says he will select Oswin Appollis if the Orlando Pirates winger is available, despite concerns from club coach Abdeslam Ouaddou that the player needs special management because he is fatigued.

Appollis has started only four of the nine league matches in which he has featured for Orlando Pirates this season. Ouaddou has explained that the limited involvement is intended to protect the Bafana Bafana winger from burnout after a demanding previous campaign, which included playing at the World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada.

Mosimane, however, said the player’s workload with the national team would not be a concern because Bafana Bafana have played relatively few matches recently.

“We played once in two months, there’s no fatigue with us. So, the fatigue doesn’t belong with us,” Mosimane told a press conference at Orlando Amstel Arena on Thursday.

“I choose the best player who is around and who is available, so I don’t overtrain, I don’t detrain the team… I just say ‘who’s available’ and if it is good for the country I use that player.”

Bafana Bafana face Kenya at Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday at 18:00 in an Afcon qualifier. The teams will meet again in Nairobi four days later, with both matches forming part of Group D of the qualifiers for next year’s Afcon.

Mosimane also highlighted the threat posed by Kenya captain and striker Michael Olunga. He compared the forward with Serhou Guirassy, the Guinea international who plays for Borussia Dortmund.

“Last time we were dealing with Guirassy here [at Orlando Amstel Arena when Bafana beat Guinea 2-1 in their opening game of these Afcon qualifiers in September] from Dortmund, now we have Michael Olungu we have to deal with, same, copy but Olungu is faster than,” Mosimane stated.

The Bafana Bafana manager said Olunga’s return made the Kenya fixture more difficult, while noting that the striker had not played in the national team’s previous matches.

“So, it’s a difficult one and I think he [Olunga] hasn’t played in the past few matches for Kenya. He’s the captain of the team and he’s a legend of the team, so now he’s been brought back to the national team for this one.”