Maswanganyi denies falling-out with former Orlando Pirates coach Ouaddou

Patrick “Tito” Maswanganyi has rejected suggestions that his relationship with former Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou deteriorated, saying their disagreements were part of the normal working relationship between a manager and a player.

The 28-year-old midfielder, who has since joined Bahraini Premier League side Al-Khaldiya SC, addressed the issue during an interview with members of the South African Football Journalists Association (SAFJA) on Monday.

Reports had suggested there was tension between Maswanganyi and the Moroccan coach during their time together at Orlando Pirates. However, Maswanganyi said their discussions were mainly focused on Ouaddou’s expectations and his attempts to meet them.

“I would say my relationship with him was okay. We always spoke about what he wanted me to do, and I’ve always tried my best to do what the coach wanted. Sometimes these things happen in football,” Maswanganyi said.

“You never know what I was supposed to do in order to play more or get more game time. I think my relationship with him was really okay.

“I don’t think we’ve had bad fights as people in the media show that we’ve been fighting, we’ve been doing this and that. It’s never been like that with me and him. It’s always been a coach and a player trying to do our best in our jobs.

“Sometimes we have disagreements, and we have agreements. That’s how football works.”

Ouaddou had also spoken publicly about the relationship after Maswanganyi left the Buccaneers in August.

Following Pirates’ 2-0 league win over Sekhukhune United at Orlando Amstel Arena, Ouaddou acknowledged that the pair had experienced difficult moments during the previous season, while praising the midfielder’s ability and achievements.

“I have huge respect for this player (Maswanganyi), (for) the titles he won. He’s a fantastic player, a gifted player. Every coach would want to have him on their team,” Ouaddou said.

The coach said it had taken time for Maswanganyi to understand what was required of him, particularly during 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.”

Ouaddou also suggested that Maswanganyi might have earned a place in Bafana Bafana’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if he had responded differently to those demands.

“I think if he listened to me last season, he would have been at the World Cup, definitely,” Ouaddou added.

Maswanganyi’s latest comments provide his version of the situation, with the former Pirates player maintaining that any differences between them were professional rather than personal. He insisted their relationship was never as confrontational as it had been portrayed.