Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has shared his thoughts on Oswin Appollis’ reduced game-time at Orlando Pirates, suggesting that managing player fatigue is not his primary concern when selecting his squad.

Appollis has been an important attacking option for the Buccaneers, but his recent involvement has raised questions about his workload and the amount of playing time he is receiving at club level.

The coach's comments come amid a debate over how Pirates are handling the winger's workload. Appollis has started only four of the nine Betway Premiership matches he has featured in this season, with Abdeslam Ouaddou explaining that the club is deliberately managing his minutes to prevent burnout.

Ouaddou previously described Appollis as one of the best players in South Africa and insisted that his reduced involvement was not a reflection of his importance to the team.

The Pirates coach believes the attacker needs protection after a demanding previous campaign, which included domestic and continental football before representing Bafana Bafana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

However, Mosimane has taken a different approach to the situation ahead of Bafana's upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya.

The national team coach explained that Bafana's playing schedule is different from that of clubs, meaning he does not consider fatigue management his responsibility when selecting available players.

He also made it clear that he would not allow outside opinions or comments from other coaches to influence his selection decisions.

Mosimane stressed that his responsibility is to identify the best available players and use those he believes can help the national team.

The situation highlights the different responsibilities facing club and national team coaches. While Ouaddou wants to protect an important player over a demanding season, Mosimane is focused on getting the best possible results for South Africa in international competition.

Appollis could therefore remain an important figure for Bafana despite his reduced starting opportunities at Orlando Pirates.

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