Abdeslam Ouaddou praises Oswin Appollis and Orlando Pirates scouting department after recent win

Abdeslam Ouaddou has reiterated that he’s a happy coach, which is why he’s grateful to Orlando Pirates for scouting special players such as Oswin Appollis.

Appollis once again proved why he was one of the Pirates’ best signings during the recently closed transfer window on Tuesday night. He scored the only goal against Siwelele at Toyota Stadium just before full-time, securing all three points for his side.

That goal brought Appollis' tally to two goals and four assists in 10 games across all competitions since arriving from Polokwane City in the winter.

In the bigger scheme of things, the Pirates are currently the most consistent team in the top flight. They’ve won five games and drawn one in their last six outings, keeping six clean sheets in the process.

The draw, which came against Stellenbosch, did little to slow their momentum. The Pirates still had enough in the tank during the MTN8 final extra-time, where they scored three unanswered goals — with Appollis providing a brace of assists off the bench.

“He’s a special player, so that means the scouting department of Orlando Pirates has done well,” said Ouaddou of the 23-year-old after the win over the struggling Siwelele.

“They (the scouts) know the kind of players they want for the club, the identity of the club, and the style of play.”

Appollis has shown he can be an impact player off the bench, but that doesn’t cause Ouaddou sleepless nights. He believes he can manage his squad effectively amid the hectic schedule.

“It’s very important to have good management skills when you have such players, especially when you're competing in so many competitions,” Ouaddou explained. “So, it was part of the plan to start him on the bench because we wanted to rest him — he had played all the previous games.

“It’s not easy for a coach because you always want to play your best players. But at the same time, you have to consider eventualities such as injuries. We don’t want injuries because we have a very long season ahead.

“When we came to Bloemfontein, we had already planned for the two games. We knew he’d come in during the second half, along with a few other players.”

Appollis hasn’t been the only new Pirates signing to seamlessly adapt to life at the club. Lebone Seema, Kamogelo Sebelebele, and Sipho Mbule have all looked as if they’ve been with the team for years.

Ouaddou, however, is also giving attention to those on the fringes, urging them to keep working hard as their chance to contribute will come.

“I don’t think it’s only him — the quality of players Orlando Pirates have signed is fantastic,” Ouaddou said. “But I always tell some of them that it’s not their time to play yet. They just need to be patient. Everyone will get a chance to play this season.”

The Pirates’ schedule includes continental football, and the team took a step closer to reaching the second round of the CAF Champions League preliminary play-offs after beating Lioli 3-0 in the first leg at a neutral Toyota Stadium last Saturday.

With the team set to return for the second leg at home — Orlando Stadium — on Saturday, after spending a few days in the City of Roses, Ouaddou is pleased with their time away from home.

“I am very proud of them. I’m a happy coach because I have fantastic players. They played three days before the Champions League and performed very well,” said Ouaddou.

“They showed great character and personality. So, we’ll return to Johannesburg after spending time in Bloemfontein — with happiness.”