Masilela backs Mosimane over Appollis tactics: ‘He is the coach’

Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana winger Joel “Fire” Masilela has defended Pitso Mosimane’s decision to change the way Oswin Appollis is used in the national team.

Mosimane made his views clear after Bafana Bafana’s 2-1 win over Guinea in their opening Africa Cup of Nations match in Orlando, saying Appollis would sometimes need to adjust his game to allow Aubrey Modiba to make overlapping runs.

Masilela believes the head coach is entitled to use different tactical ideas and select his players in the way he feels gives the team the best chance of success.

“Pitso is not going to play Oswin Appollis the way they are playing him at Orlando Pirates. He wants to play Appollis as a winger that cuts inside, and I think that’s what he prefers and thinks will work for him,” Masilela told KICKOFF.

He said Mosimane should not be criticised simply because his approach differs from the way Appollis is used by Orlando Pirates.

“But he is a head coach, and that’s what head coaches do. He is allowed to come up with different approaches and to chop and change players. It’s within his rights as a head coach,” Masilela added.

“People shouldn’t criticise for the sake of it. They shouldn’t just criticise and be negative. They should just give him the green light to do what he thinks will work. He is the coach.”

Masilela agrees with Modiba workload concern

Masilela also backed Mosimane’s assessment that Modiba is being asked to carry too much responsibility.

“Also, with Aubrey Modiba, it’s true what he is saying; he is overloaded. I agree with him. 100%, he is overloaded. We need to be careful with him, and he recovers very well,” he said.

The former winger said there was nothing negative about the coach wanting his players to follow a specific tactical plan.

“I don’t see any negativity in that. This is what the coach wants to see his players play. Every coach wants his players or team to play the way he wants. That’s the technical team’s decision. There is nothing wrong with that.”