Maswanganyi can fill Mofokeng void at Orlando Pirates, says Ouaddou

Orlando Pirates manager Abdeslam Ouaddou believes Patrick Maswanganyi can take on a leading creative role after Relebohile Mofokeng’s departure, saying the midfielder has the quality to link defence and attack and make a significant contribution in the final third.

Maswanganyi helped Pirates to a convincing 3-0 victory over Chippa United in their Betway Premiership meeting at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban on Sunday. The playmaker supplied the assist for Ghampani Lungu to score the opening goal, underlining his influence in an impressive performance from the Buccaneers.

The 27-year-old has also played an important part in Pirates’ MTN8 campaign. He provided an assist before scoring in their 2-1 quarter-final victory over Durban City.

Ouaddou has been encouraged by Maswanganyi’s application since the beginning of the season, both on the training ground and during matches. He says the midfielder is capable of assuming many of the responsibilities previously associated with Mofokeng, particularly in creating opportunities and adding goals.

“Everybody who understands football, who knows football, can see fantastic quality on Tito,” said Ouaddou.

The Pirates manager has been working with Maswanganyi on his positioning and decision-making, with the aim of helping him influence matches more consistently.

“As long as he brings the game in his favour, to play forward, it’s what we have been saying to him, to bring the game forward. You see that he can help the team and he can be really the link between the defenders and the strikers.

“Not only that, he’s able to feed in the last third, but he’s somebody who is able to score as well. So, I think he has a lot of talent, he knows. We sit with him, we talk a lot about which area he needs to occupy, he must occupy in order to be more efficient.

“We did a lot of video sessions with him as well. And he’s a clever boy; he’s a clever boy. He knows exactly what we’re expecting from him and he showed it today.”

With Mofokeng no longer at the club, Ouaddou believes Maswanganyi has been given an opportunity to establish himself as one of Pirates’ central attacking figures. The manager also praised the player’s preparation, attitude and approach to his work.

“Again, I hope we will have this consistency because he’s a key player for Pirates, definitely. And like you said, truly, with the departure of Rele, he has a big space there to play and a very big role to play for our club. I’m very happy about his preparation since the beginning of the season.

“I’m very happy about how he’s training. I’m very happy about his attitude and it’s what I’m asking for my players. The work starts in training, not during the weekend, during the game.”

Maswanganyi’s assist against Chippa United and his contribution in the MTN8 victory over Durban City have given Ouaddou further confidence that he can continue to develop into a key player for Orlando Pirates.

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