Mosimane will not let club workload affect Appollis selection for Bafana

Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane says club concerns will not influence his decisions as he prepares to select Oswin Appollis for the crucial back-to-back Afcon qualifiers against Kenya.

South Africa host the Harambee Stars at Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday night (6 pm), with Mosimane expected to name his strongest available side despite continued attention on Appollis’ limited playing time at club level.

Appollis’ club coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou, recently explained that the PSL Midfielder of the Season has been used largely as an impact substitute since the start of the campaign. The decision, he said, was intended to manage the player’s workload after a congested schedule involving domestic and continental matches, as well as Afcon and the World Cup.

Mosimane, however, said those considerations would not determine whether Appollis starts or plays for Bafana. He said responsibility for the national team’s selection decisions rested with him and that he would prioritise what he believed was best for the country.

The coach started Appollis in South Africa’s previous two qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea. The attacker made a significant contribution against Eritrea, providing a hat-trick of assists.

“We play once every two months, so there’s no fatigue with us,” Mosimane said at Thursday afternoon’s pre-match press conference. “So, for me, fatigue is not mine to manage, but to choose the best player around, and who’s available.

“I don’t overtrain or detrain the team. I just use the player who’s available and good for the country.”

Mosimane has previously said he respects the views of club coaches and would welcome one-on-one meetings with them to improve relationships between the national team and the clubs.

He nevertheless made clear that feedback from club level would not dictate his team selections. While he takes updates into account, Mosimane said he must decide independently when it comes to choosing his side.

“I don’t listen to some press conferences,” Mosimane said. “I have to look at what I have. If I have to start listening and looking at everybody, then my decisions and ways of thinking will be swayed.”

The match against Kenya is the first of two important Afcon qualifiers. Mosimane’s position means Appollis remains available for selection regardless of the managed workload programme being used by Ouaddou at club level.