Apollus: The dribbling wizard who simplified football

Jonathan ‘Samora’ Apollus was a player who played with extraordinary flair and passion. In fact, he made dribbling past a cluster of defenders look so simple it seemed he walked through them.

Born and raised in Windhoek, Apollus sharpened his football skills on a concrete surface in front of Augeikhas Primary School, where he started his education.

“Unlike the majority of the youngsters from the townships who started playing on gravel, I learned my craft on a cement floor with a tiny tennis ball.

“I didn’t care where I was told to play, whether it was in defence, midfield, forward or even as a goalkeeper, as long as I was in the starting 11.”

His versatility would later become invaluable for Orlando Pirates because it left the team’s coaches with a lot of options.

Apollus says he mostly loved to play as a sweeper in the defence but would find himself deployed in the midfield or on either wings of the Pirates forward line.

“ I always gave my 120% contribution to the team. I was easily coachable and very reliable in making a difference for the team,” he says.