Ouaddou explains why Appollis started on the bench in Pirates’ MTN8 final defeat

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says Oswin Appollis was deliberately held back as an impact substitute in Saturday’s MTN8 final against Mamelodi Sundowns.

The decision to leave the Bafana Bafana winger out of the starting XI was one of the main talking points before kick-off, as Pirates suffered defeat in their first Wafa Wafa final in five years.

Appollis was introduced at half-time, replacing the injured Kamogelo Sebelebele, but he could not help Pirates overturn the result. Mamelodi Sundowns secured the trophy when Iqraam Rayners converted a late penalty.

Pirates had earlier been given an opportunity to take control of the match, but Ghampani Lungu missed from the spot in the 60th minute.

Speaking after the game, Ouaddou defended his selection and said Appollis had been included in the team’s plans as a player capable of changing the contest from the bench.

“He’s one of the best players in the country, in our team as well,” Ouaddou said at his post-match news conference.

“But you know when you’re playing a game, you have a strategy. You can play in different phases, you have to anticipate about what can happen in the second half.

“We planned to bring him quickly maybe after the second half. I think we did it last year.”

Ouaddou explained that his approach often involves keeping certain players in reserve to make an impact later in the match.

“You know how I’m working, I always have some players who are impact players. So today, he was part of the impact players, somebody who can change the game,” he said.

However, Pirates’ early setback forced the coaching staff to adjust their plans. Ouaddou said conceding early meant the team was immediately required to chase the game, affecting the timing and role originally envisaged for Appollis.

“But the fact that we conceded early changed our plan because we were chasing,” he said.

“Oswin is a fantastic player, he’s a very important player for us, an international player.

“But today we took the decision to bring him as an impact player to change the game.”