Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has admitted he is waiting on more information about Oswin Appollis after the winger was withdrawn during the Buccaneers’ 3-0 win over TS Galaxy on Tuesday evening.
Appollis caused some concern when he came off, but Ouaddou is hopeful that the issue is nothing more than tiredness.
The coach stressed how valuable the attacker is to the squad, particularly with a busy run of fixtures on the horizon.
“It’s fatigue I hope, he’s one of our best players, an important player in the group, you know we have an important games in the Champions League, we have the derby coming, for now I don’t have too much information about that,” Ouaddou said.
Precaution Over Risk
The Moroccan mentor explained that taking Appollis off was a precautionary decision made after consulting the player and the club’s medical department, rather than a response to a clear-cut injury.
“I just didn’t want to take a risk with him, he’s a very important player, so when I spoke with him and medical department, we decided not to take a risk, we will assess him and have more information [on Wednesday].”
Any setback to Appollis would be unwelcome for Pirates, who have the Champions League and the derby coming up. The win over Galaxy was already tinged with injury concerns, with Kamogelo Sebelebele also being assessed after the MTN8 final and ruled out of the continental fixture.
Appollis will undergo assessment on Wednesday, with the club expected to provide clarity on his availability afterwards. Pirates will be hoping the situation proves to be a minor one as they prepare for their next important matches.