Orlando Pirates head coach has explained why star player Oswin Appollis has yet to play an entire match this season.
The 25-year-old winger has not showed form this campaign having only netted just once in five outings. Last season, he reached double figured in terms if goals and was named Midfielder of the Season after helping Pirates to three trophies.
Ouaddou admitted that Appollis has not been at his best having featured for Bafana during the FIFA World Cup
“You are right to say he’s one of our best players and when you have a diamond in your house you have to protect him,” he said as per iDiski Times.
“Appollis is Appollis you know him. He’s somebody that is 50% I can even say 40% and he can score at any moment so, we are not surprised. He’s not only the player that is not in the fitness state that we want. In Europe as well all the guys who have been in the World Cup, we can see that it’s difficult for them.”
Appollis yet to get to his best this season
Against Sekhukhune United, the winger was taken out in the second half with Ouaddou explaining his decision.
“With our performance department, medical department, the technical staff, we are doing everything for him to come back in the good shape. And for that today in the game he’s improving. And today it was a moment for us to protect him maybe for him to rest and not to risk any injury because I have been saying this since the beginning, I knew that all these international players they will be tired.
“And in order to protect them I need to anticipate any game injuries. It’s my job to do that sometimes the players they don’t understand it they are not happy to go out. But it’s my duty to protect them because we have seen in other teams that I don’t want to mention they have unfortunately very big injuries.
Appollis is one of the seven Orlando Pirates players who featured in the tournament and played all four matches.Evicence Makgopa and Thalente Mbatha, who also featured in the World Cup, are out with serious injuries.
“So, in Pirates we want to avoid that with our international players. We already have two players that have had surgery with Mbatha, and we have Makgopa injured as well so we don’t want to have more players injured because the season will be very long.”
