Lekoelea questions Maswanganyi’s commitment as Pirates exit rumours grow

Former Orlando Pirates favourite Steve Lekoelea has accused Patrick Maswanganyi of showing disrespect towards the Soweto club amid reports that the midfielder is close to joining an unnamed foreign side.

Maswanganyi was left out of Pirates’ team for Saturday’s MTN8 semi-final second leg against Sekhukhune United at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium. His absence came as reports emerged over the weekend that the 28-year-old could be preparing to leave the club.

Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou offered little clarity when asked about the player before or after the match, saying Maswanganyi was not injured but declining to discuss the details of the situation.

“For the other player (Maswanganyi), I cannot say too much about the issue. He is not injured. He was available, but I cannot speak about something that I don’t masterise in,” the Moroccan-Frenchman revealed.

Lekoelea, who was known as ‘Chippa’ during his playing career, believes Maswanganyi’s conduct suggests he may already have an offer from another club. The former Pirates crowd favourite also warned that the midfielder’s possible departure would come at an especially damaging time for the team.

“Tito is showing disrespect. His behaviour indicates that he has already received an offer from another club, which may be influencing his conduct. Tito was going to be a key player for Pirates this season, and his departure happens at the wrong time as this was expected to be his breakthrough season,” Lekoelea told KickOff.

Maswanganyi became an important figure for Pirates, but Lekoelea said he was disappointed by what he viewed as a change in the player’s attitude. He pointed to incidents in which Maswanganyi appeared detached from his team-mates during celebrations as evidence that the midfielder may no longer feel fully connected to the club.

“While I am not really surprised, I am still disappointed. It’s clear that he is no longer enjoying his time at Pirates. For example, his teammates are singing and celebrating together, yet he isolates himself, which suggests a lack of team spirit. As a professional, he is expected to behave accordingly as he is a role model for younger teammates. Such behaviour can easily make the fans turn against him.”

Lekoelea also questioned whether a move to Bahrain would be the right decision for Maswanganyi. Bahrain is not traditionally regarded as one of football’s leading countries, and the former Pirates player suggested that Maswanganyi’s profile has been built largely through his performances for the Soweto giants.

“Also, I don’t really know anything about Bahrain, a country that is not known for football. Given the stature of Pirates, Tito is popular because he is playing for Pirates. We don’t know how his career will turn out going forward if he does leave, and only time will tell if he is going to regret pushing for a move,” Lekoelea concluded.

The identity of the foreign club reportedly interested in Maswanganyi has not been disclosed. It also remains unclear whether the midfielder will return to the Pirates squad for their next fixture.

Pirates are due to host Sekhukhune United, also known as Babina Noko, in a league match at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Tuesday, with kick-off scheduled for 19:30. Maswanganyi’s involvement will be closely watched following his omission from the MTN8 semi-final second leg.