Orlando Pirates News Today: Injury blow, why Lungu took penalty & Appollis’ bench role explained

Latest Orlando Pirates news, including an injury to a key player, why Ghampani Lungu took the MTN8 final penalty and Oswin Appollis’ bench role.

Orlando Pirates suffer injury blow

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has confirmed that winger Kamogelo Sebelebele has sustained an injury, increasing concern for him.

Sebelebele started their MTN8 final with Mamelodi Sundowns, a game the Soweto giants lost 2-0 on Saturday, but was taken off just before halftime.

The former TS Galaxy man was seen in a protective boot and walking on crutches after the game as he went to pick his medal after the game.

“We had to take him out unfortunately,” Ouaddou told SuperSport TV after the game as per Soccer Laduma.

“It was a report from the medical department. We’re going to have some more modules, but we had to take him out and not to take risk with him but it’s unfortunate for him.”

Ouaddou reveals why Lungu took penalty

Meanwhile, Ouaddou has commented on why Ghampani Lungu took a penalty. The new signing was handed the responsibility from the spot when Teboho Mokoena gave away a penalty in the 60^th minute but he missed as Ronwen Williams dived the right way to save.

The game was still 1-0 in favour of Sundowns at the time and the miss proved costly as it gave Sundowns impetus before they scored a penalty of their own later through Iqraam Rayners to seal the win.

“He [Lungu] is one of the designated takers. Of the players he was first in the takers. After we have Appollis,” he explained.

“It’s moments like that, it’s football. We have to respect. Congratulations to Mamelodi Sundowns. Of course, we are disappointed but in football you have to be fair play.

“For us, we have to continue to work and people are going to see a fantastic season because we are not going to give up. And we are going to try to keep our title.”

Appollis’ MTN8 final bench role explained

Abdeslam Ouaddou says the decision to start Oswin Appollis on the bench was tactical as he wanted to use his quality to kill off Mamelodi Sundowns in the second half.

The winger came on after the break as the replacement for Sebelebele and his coach says it was a strategic move to omit him from the starting XI.

“He’s one of the of the best players in the country, in our team as well,” he said.

“But you know when you’re playing a game, you have a strategy. You can play in different phases, you have to anticipate about what can happen in the second half.

“We planned to bring him quickly maybe after the second half. I think we did it last year.

“You know how I’m working, I always have some players who are impact players. So today, he was he was part of the impact players, somebody who can change the game.

“But the fact that we conceded early changed our plan because we were chasing. So Oswin is a fantastic players, he’s a very important player for us, an international players.”