What does PSG have to do with it? Orlando Pirates coach explains why Appollis keeps starting on the bench

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has offered an unexpected explanation for Oswin Appollis' reduced playing time, drawing a striking comparison with Paris Saint-Germain.

Details: The 25-year-old winger once again started on the bench during Saturday's 1-0 victory over Sekhukhune United in the Carling Knockout quarterfinals. Mpho Padime scored the winning goal, while Appollis entered the pitch in the second half. Ouaddou explained why he continues to rotate one of his most important players.

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Speaking after the match, the Moroccan coach compared his approach to Luis Enrique's management of Achraf Hakimi at PSG.

"With some players, you have to be careful, and I've mentioned this before. If you follow international football, Luis Enrique at Paris Saint-Germain decided to rest Hakimi until January," Ouaddou said.

"That was an internal decision based on performance data showing he needed rest to avoid injury risks. Look at our squad—we had an injury to Kamogelo Sebelebele, and Evidence Makgopa returned injured from the 2026 FIFA World Cup," the coach explained.

"We've seen severe injuries across other teams as well. We have to be smart. When you have a diamond like Appollis, you must anticipate burnout, especially when a player shows signs of fatigue," he added.

Ouaddou also firmly denied suggestions of a personal conflict with the winger.

"Our duty is to protect him. I want to clear this up because I don't want to leave room for speculation. I've heard claims that I don't like Appollis, but that is false. We have the CAF Champions League coming up and crucial games ahead—that is when we will unleash our joker."

It's worth noting that Appollis played a crucial role in Orlando Pirates' domestic treble during the 2025/26 season, recording 12 goals and nine assists in 43 appearances across all competitions.

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