Appollis determined to ‘keep going’ for Orlando Pirates after death of close friend Jayden Adams

Oswin Appollis says he is determined to focus on his football for Orlando Pirates despite still mourning the death of close friend and fellow professional Jayden Adams.

The Cape Town-born midfielder revealed he is using his responsibilities to his family and club as motivation to continue playing following Adams’ passing shortly after the World Cup.

“Obviously you know when I got the news, it was difficult you know. But like I said, I have to continue doing my job. I have a family to feed, so I have to do my job,” Appollis told reporters on Tuesday.

He was speaking at Rand Stadium, where the defending Betway Premiership champions held a media open day before their opening league match of the season against Milford FC.

Appollis, who is also a Bafana Bafana international, described the loss of Adams as a painful personal blow but said the demands of his role as a professional footballer leave him little choice but to push on.

Coping with loss while leading on the pitch

Appollis and Adams were not only close friends but also peers in the South African professional game, and the Pirates player admitted coming to terms with the news has been far from straightforward.

Appollis said the grief remains raw, yet he stressed that the expectations placed on him as a breadwinner weigh heavily in his thinking.

He explained that, however difficult it has been to accept Adams’ death, the need to provide for his family and uphold his professional duties has become his driving force to return to work and maintain his performance levels.

“For me, I have to keep on going (because) this is my job, you know. Things happen, you know, I am happy. I am aways smiling, stuff that happened, it happened and, as I said, this is my job I have to do my job,” he said.

Midfielder of the Season recognition

The 22-year-old forward, who operates primarily in midfield for Pirates, recently received the Midfielder of the Season Award at the PSL Awards on Monday.

Appollis was keen to share the credit for that accolade with his teammates, insisting the collective effort of the Orlando Pirates squad underpinned his individual success.

“First of all, I think the team helped me win my award of the season,” he said, highlighting how the team structure and support around him allowed him to shine.

He also praised other award winners on the night, singling out Relebohile Mofokeng for particular recognition.

“The other awards, Rele (Relebohile Mofokeng), the ones who won, did a fantastic job so they deserve it also,” Appollis added.

Focus shifts to Betway Premiership defence

Orlando Pirates are preparing to begin the defence of their Betway Premiership title, with Milford FC their first opponents of the new campaign.

The media session at Rand Stadium formed part of the club’s build-up as they look to maintain the standards that saw them crowned champions last season.

For Appollis, the new league campaign comes at a time of personal transition, balancing the emotions of loss with the demands of top-flight football.

Despite the circumstances, he underlined his commitment to meeting those demands, reiterating that his responsibility to his family and his club remains his priority as Pirates chase further domestic success.