By Ayanda Nyuswa
New Orlando Pirates coach Abdelslam Ouaddou says he will not change the playing style of Oswin Appollis but wants to help the talented attacker reach a higher level. Ouaddou enjoyed a winning start to his Pirates coaching tenure as the Bucaneers beat Polokwane City 2-0 in the MTN 8 quarterfinals at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
Appollis, 23, made a dream debut in front of a raucous Orlando Stadium as he netted the opener and was brought down in the box for Pirates’ second goal from the penalty spot.
The Bafana Bafana international was one of six Pirates debutants in the match, alongside Sipho Mbule, Sihle Nduli, Tshepang Moremi, Yanela Mbuthuma and Abdoulaye Mariko, as the Moroccan coach wasted no time in giving the fans a look at the new players in the team.
“Appollis I played against him when I was in my previous club (Marumo Gallants), I know 100% the player I know his qualities,” said Ouaddou.
“I will not change him, but as an ex-professional football player, as a coach I want to bring him for the highest level. Of course we need to discipline him, to give him some tactical workshop to do. He did it during the pre season camp, you can see that we don’t use him just for transitions, we use him for many tasks. He did well today, we give him 60 minutes, we didn’t want to burn him. He can come between the lines, he can make runs in deep, yes he can change the sides. I want dynamic players, not only to stand in one side and to wait for the ball. I want a very dynamic team a very dynamic organisation, a very dynamic system. It is modern football you can see now the system is not only 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-3, everyone is changing positions and the opponent cannot know even how you are playing because it is modern football.”
