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

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou believes Patrick “Tito” Maswanganyi would have been included in the Bafana Bafana squad for the recent World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada if the midfielder had followed his instructions more closely last season.

Maswanganyi is now set to leave Pirates after the club reached an agreement with Bahraini Premier League side Al-Khaldiya SC over his transfer. His departure comes after three seasons with the Soweto club and following a difficult working relationship with Ouaddou last term.

Despite those challenges, Ouaddou was quick to recognise Maswanganyi’s quality after Pirates’ 2-0 league victory over Sekhukhune United at Orlando Amstel Arena on Tuesday.

“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.

The Moroccan coach said Maswanganyi initially needed time to understand the level of commitment and discipline he expected from him 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.”

Ouaddou added that Maswanganyi had already demonstrated his importance to Pirates at the beginning of the current campaign. However, he also suggested the player might have earned international recognition earlier had he responded differently to the coach’s demands.

“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 midfielder, who comes from Thembisa, made 120 appearances for the Soweto giants, scoring 28 goals and providing 21 assists across three seasons.

His time at Pirates also brought several honours, including the league title last season. The 28-year-old became a popular figure among the club’s supporters because of his creativity and attacking influence.

Although Maswanganyi is moving on, Pirates remain involved in domestic competition on two fronts. Boitumelo Radiopane and Oswin Appollis scored against Sekhukhune in Tuesday’s league match, giving Ouaddou’s side further momentum ahead of their next fixture.

Pirates will face Sekhukhune again in the second leg of the MTN8 semi-finals at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday. The Soweto club hold the advantage after winning the first leg 1-0 in Polokwane last Saturday and are in a favourable position to reach the final.

Ouaddou’s comments came as Pirates prepare for that decisive cup meeting, while the club finalises the transfer of a player who made a significant contribution during his spell in black and white.