Orlando Pirates legend Steve Lekoelea has singled out Oswin Appollis for praise after the winger played a starring role in Bafana Bafana’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Eritrea.
Appollis may not have found the back of the net, but his influence was clear as he finished the match with three assists, helping South Africa cruise to victory.
The performance also comes after Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane challenged Appollis to remain disciplined in his role on the left flank following South Africa’s 2-1 win over Guinea.
Mosimane had urged the Pirates winger not to drift too far from the wing, allowing teammate Aubrey Modiba the freedom to move inside.
While those comments sparked mixed reactions among supporters, Lekoelea believes Appollis has demonstrated an important quality that every professional footballer needs: the ability to listen to his coach and put the team first.
“Every player should behave like Appollis. In football, to last longer, you must be coachable; you have to be strong physically and mentally. Appollis is a national star. Yesterday [Wednesday] he showed he can play at the highest level,” Lekoelea told KickOff.
Lekoelea raises concerns over Bafana’s approach
Despite the convincing scoreline, Lekoelea felt some of South Africa’s players did not approach the match with the required intensity.
The former Pirates star criticised what he viewed as a casual approach from some of Bafana’s defenders and the goalkeeper, warning that underestimating opponents could become a problem.
“The same can’t be said about some of his teammates; they were too casual, especially the keeper and the centre-backs. They undermined Eritrea,” he said.
Lekoelea added that Bafana need to be ruthless against lower-ranked opposition if they want to earn greater respect internationally.
Is Appollis finding his form again?
Appollis was regarded as one of Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates’ standout performers before the FIFA World Cup in June. However, his form subsequently dipped, and he struggled to reproduce his best performances during the tournament.
His club form has also yet to reach the levels expected this season.
But the three-assist performance against Eritrea could provide a timely boost.
With Bafana continuing their campaign and Orlando Pirates relying on Appollis to rediscover his club form, his latest international display could be an important step forward.
What did you make of Oswin Appollis’ performance against Eritrea? Can he carry this form into his next games for Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates?
