Lekoelea urges Ouaddou to start Appollis in Pirates’ Champions League decider

Orlando Pirates legend Steve Lekoelea has called on coach Abdeslam Ouaddou to avoid another tactical gamble and select Oswin Appollis for Friday’s decisive CAF Champions League meeting with African Stars.

Pirates take a narrow advantage into the second leg at Orlando Amstel Arena after winning 1-0 in Gaborone last weekend. The Soweto club are aiming to reach the group stage after missing out last season, when they were eliminated by FC Saint-Eloi Lupopo of DR Congo in the second preliminary round.

Lekoelea believes Pirates must focus on attacking rather than simply protecting their lead, while remaining aware of the threat posed by a strong African Stars side.

The Namibian visitors are expected to provide a physical and well-organised test. They will also need to balance their pursuit of an equaliser with the risk of leaving space for Pirates to exploit in defence.

With the away goals rule involved, Lekoelea says the hosts cannot afford to adopt an overly cautious approach.

“These boys they must win. They must attack more since there is goal advantage rule involved in all this. I hope Ouaddou doesn’t do the same mistake he did against Mamelodi Sundowns and put Oswin Appollis on the bench,” he said.

The former Pirates winger also stressed that the club’s strongest available line-up should be used in a match that could determine whether they progress to the next stage.

“He must put our best XI so that the team wins. If we fail to win, the blame will be on the coaches. We expect Pirates to win since they are at home,” Lekoelea added.

His comments follow criticism of Ouaddou’s team selection in the MTN8 final against Sundowns. Appollis began that match on the bench, a decision that attracted widespread disapproval from those who felt Pirates lacked creativity without the PSL Midfielder of the Season in the starting line-up.

Pirates went on to lose the final 2-0, surrendering the trophy to Sundowns.

The club now have the opportunity to advance in the CAF Champions League, but African Stars’ physical approach and need to overturn the first-leg deficit mean the visitors are unlikely to make the task straightforward.

Kick-off is at 20:00.