Polokwane City coach Phuti Mohafe admits he never expected winger Oswin Appollis to blossom into an integral player for the club and national team.
Appollis, signed from Pretoria Callies in July 2023, is currently one of the most sought-after players in the PSL with Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates credited with an interest although a move has not materialised in both the off-season and midseason transfer windows.
However, the player has remained focused and continued to do his job on the pitch, chipping in with three goals in 15 matches for Rise and Shine, who occupy third place on the PSL table, and his coach is in awe of his quality.
Mohafe surprised by Appollis’ quality
“When Appollis came to the club, I was one of the people that didn’t believe he would make it,” Mohafe told Sports Night Live With Andile.
“I told him he deserves to play for the national team but he had to change his attitude and fighting spirit. Since then, he has gotten better and better.”
Appolis has not just shown his quality for Polokwane but he is now one of the undroppable players for Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos and displayed his qualities in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers when he scored two goals and provided four assists in six games.
That has seen him heavily linked with the Soweto giants, with Mohafe having to deal with the distraction of the transfer talk, but the winger has remained steadfast, to his coach’s delight.
Will Polokwane hold onto the winger?
“When I look at Appollis, I see a focused player who is not distracted by all the rumours. With the possibility of him moving, I don’t have power or a say over it, as the technical team, we are not even thinking about his replacement,” Mohafe added regarding the player’s future.
“Even for the long-term, I think Polokwane City is the team for Oswin Appollis and we don’t want to lose a player of his calibre. We are building a brand at Polokwane City, and we need him in it.”
With the midseason transfer window now closed, Mohafe will be pleased that he still has his prized asset in the locker room and he will not have to answer questions about his future, at least until the end of the season.
