Pirates support helped Appollis through tough time after Adams’ passing

Adams passed away just a few days before Pirates left for their pre-season in Europe, and the club gave Appollis time to travel to Cape Town to visit Adams’ family. 

The two players had been very close, and were also roommates during Bafana Bafana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign in Mexico and the USA. The Bishop Lavis-born player is now focused on taking his career forward in remembrance of his friend...

"It was very tough to take, but I thank the club for giving me a few days to go and see his family. The loss of Jayden was very shocking but what can I do, because only God knows the reason. I just have to man up, find the strength, and carry on doing what I love."

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Last season, Appollis was one of the outstanding players in the Bucs squad as he helped the team end a 14-year league title drought. He’s approaching the new season with some excitement...

"It's very exciting entering the league as champions and I think we have an exciting season ahead of us because we've been working hard and showing our quality in pre-season."

The Buccaneers kick off their new campaign against the newly promoted Milford FC tomorrow afternoon at the Orlando Amstel Arena. The Richards Bay-based side are not entirely a new team to the Bucs, as they had seen them in the National First Division and the Nedbank Cup last season. 

Appollis says they can’t be taken lightly.

Appollis was part of the group of Pirates players who made a clean sweep at the Premier Soccer League’s virtual awards ceremony earlier this week, as he was deservedly voted the midfielder of the season. 

He will also miss his partner in crime from last season and the PSL’s Footballer of the season, Relebohile Mofokeng, who has since moved to Belgium in a big-money deal, but he believes that the club has assembled an even stronger team for this season.

Combined, Appollis and Mofokeng contributed to almost 40 goals together for Pirates last season, and these are stats that ensured the Buccaneers achieved a domestic treble.