Kwanele Kopo Reveals How He Helped Oswin Appollis Revive His Football Career

Orlando Pirates forward Oswin Appollis has enjoyed an impressive rise in South African football, but his journey to becoming one of the country's exciting attacking talents almost ended before reaching its full potential. Former University of Pretoria coach Kwanele Kopo has revealed how he helped the talented winger rediscover his passion for the game after he considered quitting football.

Kopo first recognised Appollis's potential when the attacker was part of Ajax Cape Town's youth structures. At the time, coaches believed he had the ability to progress through SuperSport United's development system and establish himself in senior football.

However, Appollis's career suffered a setback following his promotion to SuperSport United's first team. Changes in the technical team brought different playing philosophies, and the youngster eventually became surplus to requirements before being released.

According to Kopo, Appollis struggled to find another opportunity and spent more than 18 months away from competitive football before they reunited at Pretoria Callies.

Convincing the forward to return was not easy, as he had lost motivation and initially showed little interest in continuing his career. Kopo persevered, maintaining contact with him for weeks before eventually reaching out to his mother.

The coach also reassured Appollis that he could return to Cape Town if he resumed playing but failed to secure a professional contract within a season. Kopo acknowledged that Pretoria Callies could not offer significant financial rewards, explaining that the priority was helping the youngster rebuild his career.

That decision proved crucial, as Appollis regained his confidence and returned to professional football.

His subsequent development has seen him become an important attacking option for Orlando Pirates and a recognised performer for Bafana Bafana. He also attracted interest from Portuguese giants FC Porto, although the proposed move reportedly collapsed because the club could not meet Pirates' asking price.

Appollis has since emphasised his commitment to winning trophies with Pirates while remaining open to future opportunities in Europe.

His journey highlights Kopo's persistence and the importance of second chances in football.

Source

https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/local/coach-kopo-breaks-silence-on-rescuing-appollis-career/