Oswin Appollis has found life more difficult at Orlando Pirates this season after enjoying an impressive debut campaign that helped the Buccaneers achieve a historic treble.
The 25-year-old winger has not quite reached the same levels as last season, with his performances and goal contributions falling short of expectations.
Appollis has managed two goals and three assists so far this campaign. That is a noticeable drop from his first season at the club, when he scored 10 goals across all competitions and registered eight assists.
His recent struggles have also coincided with a change in his role, with head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou opting to leave him out of the starting line-up in recent matches.
However, the Pirates coach has been quick to defend the winger, insisting that his decision is about managing the player rather than questioning his ability.
Ouaddou explains why Appollis has been benched
Ouaddou remains convinced that Appollis is one of the finest players in South African football.
The Moroccan coach believes the winger deserves consideration for the workload he has carried since joining Pirates, particularly after a demanding first season at the club and his international commitments.
“Appollis is one of our best players. Appollis is one of the best players in South Africa. He is full of quality, but Appollis we don’t have to forget is a human, he is not a robot,” Ouaddou said.
The coach also pointed to the significant changes in Appollis’s career following his move from Polokwane City to Pirates.
He explained that the winger had to adapt to a new environment, deliver consistently for his club and then represent his country on the international stage.
Ouaddou added that Appollis had given everything for Bafana Bafana and suggested that fatigue could be affecting his performances.
His comments indicate that the coach has not lost faith in the player, despite his decision to manage his minutes.
Appollis needs to step up after Mofokeng’s departure
One of the biggest talking points surrounding Pirates this season is how the team has adjusted following Relebohile Mofokeng’s departure.
Appollis was expected to remain an influential attacking figure, but he has yet to consistently deliver the performances supporters associate with him.
Although he has taken more shots at goal than any other Pirates player, his finishing has not always been accurate enough.
His struggles have also been noticeable at international level, where he has not managed to reproduce the form that made him an important contributor to Bafana Bafana’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
For a player who was so influential during Pirates’ successful previous season, the challenge now is to rediscover that confidence and attacking sharpness.
Can Oswin Appollis turn his season around?
There is little doubt about Appollis’s ability. His first season at Pirates demonstrated what he can offer when he is confident, fit and playing regularly.
However, the competition for places at the Buccaneers means he cannot afford an extended dip in form.
Ouaddou’s comments suggest that the club is conscious of the demands placed on the winger and is prepared to manage his workload.
The next step is for Appollis to turn that patience into improved performances on the pitch.
Pirates will need his creativity, goals and attacking threat if they are to maintain their ambitions this season.
Can Oswin Appollis rediscover his best form, or is his place in the Pirates starting XI now under threat?
