Bafana Bafana winger Oswin Appollis has credited Hugo Broos for his meteoric rise in the national team.
Appollis, 23, has been touted as a future star for South African football over the last decade but saw his career fade when joining SuperSport United from Ajax Cape Town.
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After three seasons, he was released and eventually snapped up by second-tier side Pretoria Callies by Kwanele Kopo after returning home clubless for a few months.
And it sparked a career rebirth, taking that form to the top-flight with Polokwane City and subsequently the senior national team over the past year.
“I think there’s one thing he’s always told me you know – keep on working hard, no matter the environment you’re in,” Appollis said about the Belgian coach.
“He’s always had the belief in me you know and for that I’m grateful… It all comes down to working hard… the national team coach can choose anyone who is on form, no matter what team they play for. It kept me going.
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“When I first saw my name in the national team, coming from Polokwane, it said a lot, because he has an eye [for talent], he doesn’t care if you play for the smaller team, he will choose you if you put in a performance week-in, week-out.”
Appollis was part of the squad that finished third at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and has been an ever-present figure in the squad since.
He’s scored two goals with three assists, starting each of the five 2025 AFCON qualifiers, with South Africa currently top of Group K going into the South Sudan fixture in his hometown, Cape Town on Tuesday afternoon.
“Looking back, I had a rough few seasons when I started playing [professional] football and then I think because of my support system I had always pushed me. When I kept going, getting form, I realised there’s a lot [to do] in football,” he added.
“So, I’ve just keep keeping hard you know and for that I’m happy, I want to continue growing and learning you know.”
