Phuti Mohafe: Oswin Appollis’ departure left a huge void

Appollis, who joined Orlando Pirates in a big money move last month, wasted no time making his mark for his new club. 

The 23-year-old scored the opening goal and won a penalty as the Buccaneers defeated City 2-0 in the MTN8 quarterfinal at Orlando Stadium yesterday. 

Mohafe says Appollis has left a huge void in his team.

"It is always difficult to lose a family member and I lost a family member. So, I'm still bereaving from losing my family member and he left, he went to a bigger team and all I can do is to wish him well,” Mohafe said.

“Yes, I'm feeling it, he left a big hole in my team and I think for me and for us to replace him, it's gonna take some time."

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The dynamic attacker had carried the Limpopo-based side over the past two seasons, with City resisting several lucrative offers before eventually allowing him to move on to greener pastures. 

Mohafe says he saw a newly revived Appollis yesterday, tactically and otherwise.

"No man, that shows that I taught him well, he took that to Pirates and the coach that is coaching him now, he sharpened him. So, that movement is a drilling movement that we have been doing and we knew that the moment we gave him that ball, we must not give him the space inside,” the coach added.

“Unfortunately the guy who was supposed to close that gap went to slumberland a little bit so he caught us but I think the Appollis that I saw today is another Appollis. “In terms of the movement ability, in terms of the playing ability but I think the guy is improving and I hope that he can do so going forward."