In a bittersweet turn of events, Polokwane City coach Phuti Mohafe expressed both pride and frustration after his former player, Oswin Appollis, played a starring role in the team’s 2-0 defeat to Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 quarter-finals.
The midfielder, once under Mohafe’s guidance, returned to haunt his old club by playing a pivotal role in the Buccaneers’ victory.
Appollis, who joined the Buccaneers from Polokwane City in the offseason, wasted no time making an impact against his old club.
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A Debut to Remember
He opened the scoring just 13 minutes into his debut at Orlando Stadium. The Bafana Bafana international continued to be a thorn in his former team’s side, earning a penalty in the 35th minute that was converted by Patrick Maswanganyi, ultimately sealing the victory for Pirates. Appollis’s performance earned him the Man of the Match award.
A Coach’s Conflicted Feelings
Mohafe, speaking to SuperSport after the game, acknowledged the quality of Appollis’s goal with a mix of humor and disappointment. “He scored against us.
To me, it’s the move we taught him at Polokwane City and he did it perfectly against us,” Mohafe said. “It doesn’t sit well with me, how could you do this with this massive move and you kill me?! But it’s fine, we taught him well and he chose progress.”
Despite the loss, Mohafe is optimistic about his team’s prospects for the new season. He believes the squad is strong enough and does not require further reinforcements, especially with injured players set to return.
Looking Ahead
With their MTN8 campaign now over, Polokwane City will shift their focus to the Betway Premiership. They are set to face Magesi in a derby match this Saturday at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, where they will aim to bounce back and secure a positive start to their league season.