Orlando Pirates legend Johnny 'Black Sunday' Masegela believes that integrating the club's new second major signing, Oswin Appollis, may pose a challenge for the new coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou.
On Wednesday, the Buccaneers made headlines again by adding Bafana Bafana star Oswin Appollis to their already formidable squad.
READ | Motale opens up on Ouaddou taking over at Pirates
Pirates have also signed Sipho Mbule on a free transfer following his departure from Mamelodi Sundowns.
"Given the form they were in last season and the fact that they have changed coaches, the new coach is already under pressure to integrate everyone, especially with new players coming in," Masegela tells KickOff.
"If Jose Riveiro had remained, he could have devised a good plan to introduce Appollis into his team. However, now that Abdeslam is new, he will have to balance playing both new and old players simultaneously.
"Abdeslam will face significant pressure to play Appollis, regardless of how well the current player in his position is performing, simply because he is a big signing. To accommodate Appollis in the line-up, someone will have to be sacrificed.
"At Polokwane City, Appollis was an exceptional player, but we will have to wait and see if he replicates that success at Pirates on the field.
"We all expected Ashley Du Preez to be a game-changer for Kaizer Chiefs when he joined, but that hasn’t materialized yet.
READ | Price tag of Pirates’ new signing
"Simply signing good players does not guarantee positive results. Appollis has shown his talent with Bafana Bafana, but as we know, Pirates is a different team. You can have one great game and score a goal, and suddenly everyone is praising you, only for things to change dramatically in the following games.
"It's crucial for him to adjust quickly."
Photo by Philip Maeta/Gallo Images
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