Polokwane City midfielder Rodney Maphangule has commented on the transfer rumors surrounding his teammate Oswin Appollis after a successful season in the DStv Premiership.

Following their dramatic promotion in the 2022/23 Motsepe Foundation Championship, Polokwane City signed Appollis on a free transfer in July 2023 after his impressive performances with Pretoria Callies in the second tier.

The 22-year-old quickly established himself as a key player, contributing to seven goals and five assists in 31 appearances across all competitions.

Appollis’s scintillating performances in the first half of the season earned him a place in the Bafana Bafana squad that won the bronze medal at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast earlier this year. These performances have reportedly attracted interest from Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. Maphangule believes his teammate is ready for the next step.

“Yeah, I think this is the right time for Apollis to make a move. It will also depend on talks with the chairman of course, but I think he is ready for a move,” Maphangule told Sportswire when asked if the winger is ready for a new challenge.  

“I believe he is mature enough and mentally ready to play for any of the big teams in South Africa, he has shown his qualities domestically last season and in the national team as well, so for me he deserves to play for any of the big teams in the country.”

Despite supporting Appollis’s potential move, the 25-year-old midfielder emphasizes his belief that Polokwane City is the right environment for him to achieve his own national team aspirations. He finds inspiration in teammates Appollis and Thabang Matuludi, who recently represented South Africa at senior and COSAFA Cup levels respectively, while playing for Rise and Shine.

“I don’t think playing for Polokwane City can hinder me from representing my country, because my teammates achieved that while playing for this club,” the former Black Leopards DStv Diski Challenge player said.  

“So, it’s a matter of learning, pushing more, as well as checking what attributes from my teammates and those who get called up can I add to my game, and hopefully I will improve and earn a call-up as well shortly,” Maphangule added.  

Polokwane City finished eighth in the DStv Premiership last season and will face league champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 quarter-final.

Interim coach Phuthi Mohafe previously stated that Appollis would only be sold to an overseas club. It remains to be seen if Polokwane City can hold onto Appollis beyond this transfer window for the upcoming 2024/25 season.

Article by Robert Makatanye