Appollis details Ouaddou’s game-changing bench mindset

Orlando Pirates are flying high, sitting atop the Betway Premiership and preparing for another shot at silverware in the Carling Knockout Cup final. But it’s not just the starting XI getting the job done—it’s the players coming off the bench who are delivering match-winning moments, and winger Oswin Appollis has finally revealed the secret weapon used by coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.

Ahead of Saturday’s massive showdown against Marumo Gallants, Appollis explained that the Moroccan coach Ouaddou has completely banished the term “substitute” from the dressing room vocabulary.

The Psychology of the ‘Impact Player’

“The mentality that the coach created, he tells us that we, as the substitutes, he doesn’t call us that, he calls us impact players. And it’s been working,” Appollis confirmed.

This simple linguistic shift—from being a ‘reserve’ to being an ‘impact player’—has fostered an environment where every single player believes they are good enough to start and are prepared to be the game-changer.

“As you can see, the quality that we have in our team, no matter if you come from the bench or the starting XI, we’re all good enough to start,” Appollis added. “The coach just imprinted in our heads that we’re impact players, not substitutes.”

Ouaddou’s Bench Production: The Numbers Don’t Lie

The evidence supporting this mentality is overwhelming, particularly in high-stakes matches:

Tshepang Moremi was the undisputed hero of the MTN8 final, coming off the bench to register two goals and one assist in the 3-0 demolition of Stellenbosch FC. He also bagged a crucial substitute goal against Chippa United earlier in the season.

Oswin Appollis himself provided two assists off the bench in that MTN8 final, proving the bench-to-bench connection is deadly, and has added another assist recently against Durban City.

Even veterans like midfielder Kabelo Dlamini have registered two assists across his eight appearances as an “impact player.”

Striker Evidence Makgopa, despite a mixed run of starts, has had his overall output significantly bolstered by his production in eight substitute appearances.

Pirates are not just relying on individual quality; they are deploying calculated tactical depth, confident that their fresh legs are mentally primed to exploit a tiring Gallants defence at the Peter Mokaba Stadium this Saturday (18h30). The Buccaneers are chasing their second trophy of the season, and thanks to Ouaddou’s philosophy, they know they have 16 players ready to deliver the goods, not just 11.