Orlando Pirates coach defends Oswin Appollis’ reduced game time

Appollis was named Betway Premiership Midfielder of the Season last campaign after playing a key role in Pirates’ title-winning season. 

So far this term, however, he has completed the 90-minute match on just two occasions.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Carling Knockout Cup quarter-final against Sekhukhune United, Ouaddou addressed the scrutiny surrounding the attacker’s reduced minutes as matches pile up for The Buccaneers. 

"Appollis is a masterclass, Appollis is one of our best players. Appollis is one of the best players in South Africa, he's full of quality but we don't have to forget, he's a human, he's not a robot," Ouaddou said.

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Ouaddou added that since Appollis arrived from Polokwane City in July 2025 he has almost been playing nonstop and this could lead to exhaustion.

"Appollis played a fantastic season for his first season at Pirates, he came from Polokwane where a lot of things have changed for him and he managed to handle all these things. He had a wonderful, fantastic season, straight away he went to the World Cup and there's many players in Europe, many players in other clubs he played against,” the coach added.

“He gave everything for his country, so he's a guy who's not cheating, so we can understand one moment that sometimes a player can maybe have this fatigue."

Ouaddou used himself as an example using his playing days for both Morocco and at club level with the likes of Fulham in the English Premier League – emphasising that a player is at his best when also rested.