After Orlando Pirates sent Monnapule Saleng on loan to Orbit College, head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou's plan to replace Saleng could have been revealed.
The absence of Saleng for the better of last season was strong felt, especially after Pirates could not keep up with Betway Premiership perennial champions Mamelodi Sundowns towards the end.
The former Free State Stars forward had become a regular goal-scorer for The Buccaneers and after he was sent out on loan to Orbit, new signing Oswin Appollis was touted as a perfect replacement.
READ | Mofokeng criticized as future remains uncertain
Ouaddou seems to have had the idea and already started working on Appollis to carry the goal-scoring responsibilities of the Buccaneers.
After scoring on debut against his former side Polokwane City in the Soweto giants' 2-0 win in the MTN8 quarter-finals, his former coach took some credit for the movement of the Bafana Bafana attacker inside the box.
"That movement is a drilling movement that we've been doing and we know that the moment you get the ball, you must not give him space inside," Mohafe said in his post-match press conference.
"He took that to Pirates and the coach that is coaching him now has sharpened him," Mohafe said.
Former Kaizer Chiefs and Pirates midfielder Jabu Mahlangu observed that he can anticipate Appollis scoring more goals with the advanced role given to him by the Moroccan coach.
"Appollis for now was outstanding, he was always into the box, something we're not used to seeing from him, we know him from assisting more," Mahlangu said on SABC Sport's Laduma.
"But he was not too much in the box but at Pirates it seems like we're going to see a Appollis who is going to score a lot of goals.
"Yes, there is something happening at Pirates maybe after four, five games, with match fitness, I think this team is going to be very dangerous," Mahlangu said.
READ | Appollis: The day Pirates asked about me...
Appollis scored seven goals and had five assists in the 2023/24 season, a campaign he made his name at City.
The 23-year-old, playing in front of a traffic at Rise and Shine managed only two goals and had one assist last term in all competitions.
Photo by Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images