Patrick Maswanganyi could have made World Cup squad, says Orlando Pirates coach Ouaddou

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says departing midfielder Patrick “Tito” Maswanganyi could have been selected for the recent World Cup with Bafana Bafana if he had been more receptive to the coach’s instructions last season.

Pirates have agreed a transfer deal with Bahraini Premier League club Al-Khaldiya SC for Maswanganyi, bringing an end to his time with the Soweto giants.

Ouaddou, who acknowledged that he and the 28-year-old did not always see eye to eye during the previous campaign, nevertheless praised Maswanganyi’s ability and contribution to the club.

“I have huge respect for this player [Maswanganyi], the titles he won. He’s a fantastic player, a gifted player. Every coach would want to have him on their team,” Ouaddou said after Pirates’ 2-0 league victory over Sekhukhune United at Orlando Amstel Arena on Tuesday.

The coach said Maswanganyi had initially needed time to adapt to the demands placed on him, particularly in training.

“We had difficult moments last season. It took a bit of time for him to understand what I expected of him. In training I always said the job doesn’t start in the game; it starts in training at the start of the week.”

Maswanganyi’s performances at the beginning of the current season impressed Ouaddou, who believes the midfielder’s international prospects might have been different had he followed the coach’s advice more closely last term.

“You all saw his potential at the start of the season, it was very important, he was very important,” the Bucs mentor said. “I think if he listened to me last season, he would have been at the World Cup, definitely.”

Maswanganyi joined Pirates from the now-defunct SuperSport United in July 2023. The Thembisa-born player went on to make 120 appearances for the club across three seasons, scoring 28 goals and providing 21 assists.

During his time at Pirates, Maswanganyi helped the club win several titles, including the league championship last season. His move to Al-Khaldiya SC will now take him to the Bahraini Premier League.

Pirates strengthened their position in the MTN8 semi-final with another victory over Sekhukhune. Boitumelo Radiopane and Oswin Appollis scored for the Bucs in Tuesday’s league win.

The two teams will meet again in the second leg of the MTN8 semi-finals at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday. Pirates hold the advantage going into the match after winning the first leg 1-0 in Polokwane last Saturday.

The result leaves the Soweto club in a favourable position to reach the final, while Ouaddou’s comments provide a final assessment of Maswanganyi’s time under his management before the midfielder completes his move away from Pirates.