Ouaddou explains why Oswin Appollis has been given limited game time by Orlando Pirates

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says Oswin Appollis’ recent absence from the starting XI is part of a deliberate plan to protect the attacker ahead of the decisive stage of the season.

Appollis was named among the substitutes again as Pirates beat Sekhukhune United in the Carling Knockout Cup quarter-finals on Saturday. He had also started on the bench in several of the club’s previous matches.

Ouaddou said there was no underlying issue surrounding the player and urged people not to draw conclusions about Appollis’ position in the team.

The coach explained that Pirates were managing Appollis’ involvement carefully to ensure he remains fit and available for a demanding sequence of important fixtures.

“I already explained the situation of Appollis. You see, in Paris Saint-Germain now, Luis Enrique said that he’s going to play [Achraf] Hakimi in January,” said Ouaddou during his post-match interview on SuperSport TV.

“Why? Because they have seen with the numbers that this guy maybe he risks injuries and they don’t want to lose him. It’s the same for us. There is nothing about around Appollis.

“People must stop to create any polemics. Appollis is one of our best players, and we want to protect him for the most important games.”

The victory over Sekhukhune United sent Pirates into the Carling Knockout Cup semi-finals, but Ouaddou’s comments focused on the wider demands facing his squad and the need to preserve key players.

The coach’s explanation follows a run of matches in which Appollis has had to settle for a place on the bench, prompting questions about his reduced role. Ouaddou, however, made clear that the decision was based on managing the player’s workload rather than any change in his importance to the team.