Ouaddou takes cautious approach with Appollis ahead of Sekhukhune rematch

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is carefully managing Oswin Appollis’ workload as the winger continues his return to full fitness following Bafana Bafana’s World Cup campaign.

Appollis has played in all five of Pirates’ matches this season but has not completed a full 90 minutes. He was substituted after 65 minutes of Saturday’s MTN8 semi-final first-leg win over Sekhukhune United at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, where Deon Hotto scored the only goal.

The teams meet again on Tuesday in the Betway Premiership, with Ouaddou indicating that Appollis’ minutes are likely to remain restricted.

The 24-year-old’s fitness is being monitored as Pirates try to avoid placing excessive demands on players who represented Bafana Bafana at the World Cup only weeks ago.

“Appollis is Appollis; you know him. He’s somebody even if he’s 50% or, let’s say, even 40% (fit); he can score at any moment,” Ouaddou said.

Despite his limited involvement in matches, Ouaddou made clear that Appollis’ substitutions are not a reflection of poor performances. The coach is instead prioritising the winger’s long-term fitness ahead of a lengthy campaign across several competitions.

“We are not surprised (about Appollis’s lack of full fitness). He’s not the only player who’s not in the fitness state that we want; all the guys who were at the World Cup, you can see that it’s difficult for them.”

Ouaddou has taken Appollis off early in each of Pirates’ games this season. He believes the approach is necessary to reduce the risk of injury while allowing the player to rebuild his condition gradually.

“He’s one of our best players, and when you have a diamond in your house, you have to protect it,” he said.

“We are doing everything to help him (Appollis) to return to good shape.”

The coach’s caution has been reinforced by the injuries suffered by other players after returning from the World Cup. Thalente Mbatha and Evidence Makgopa have both sustained serious injuries and require surgery.

Former Orlando Pirates defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Mamelodi Sundowns right-back Khuliso Mudau have also suffered long-term setbacks, adding to the concerns surrounding the physical demands on the international players.

Ouaddou said those setbacks had underlined his responsibility to intervene, even when players are unhappy about being withdrawn.

“To protect them I need to anticipate any big injuries; it’s my job to do that, and sometimes the players don’t understand; they are not happy to be substituted, but it’s my duty to protect them,” he said.

Pirates will now have to manage their squad through another demanding fixture against Sekhukhune United, just three days after their MTN8 meeting. Tuesday’s Betway Premiership match will provide a further test of Ouaddou’s handling of Appollis and the club’s other World Cup representatives.

“We’ve seen other teams that I don’t want to mention, where World Cup players have suffered very big injuries, so we want to avoid that with our international players,” he added.

“We already have two players in Mbatha and Makgopa who need surgeries, so we don’t want the list to grow because this season will be very long.”