Patrick Maswanganyi explains why leaving Orlando Pirates was vital for his peace of mind

Former Orlando Pirates winger Patrick Maswanganyi says he left the club because he needed peace and a chance to regain his confidence, while the effect of social-media criticism on his family also influenced his decision.

The 28-year-old departed the Buccaneers abruptly after beginning the season with the club and appearing in their first four games. He subsequently joined Bahraini side Al Khaldiya, having felt that he was no longer himself while playing for the Sea Robbers.

Maswanganyi said he had repeatedly discussed his desire to leave with the chairman over a long period, believing a move would allow him to recover personally and professionally.

“I’ve always asked the chairman for me to leave the club because I felt like it was the right moment for me to leave, and we spoke about it for a very long time about me leaving the club,” he said during a question-and-answer session with the South African Football Journalists Association (SAFJA).

“And I felt that was going to help me in terms of me being myself and also me being able to regain my confidence, because sometimes I would feel really down and I always had to explain to them I wish to play for another team.

“Going to Bahrain that was the only team that I had that I felt it was great and it was a better opportunity for me to go there.

“I needed to be in a space where I felt I could be myself again and also I needed peace, I was looking for peace in which way when I was in South Africa I couldn’t have but for me I needed peace, that’s why I went there.”

Family affected by social-media criticism

Maswanganyi said the criticism he received online had also affected his family, who found the commentary difficult to cope with and even encouraged him to consider giving up football.

“Everyone knows that I was under a lot of pressure, not really pressure but my family was suffering from the comments that I was getting from the [social] media I’d say,” he added.

“So they would see those kind of things and they wanted me to quit football. But for me it was something whereby I would understand because I’m a football player, these things happen. But for them it was really tough for them.”

He said moving away from South Africa was a way of protecting his family and helping to improve their mental health, while also giving himself distance from the scrutiny he had been experiencing.

“I had to make sure that my family is protected from all those things. I just felt like that if I would move far away from the country things would get better in terms of their [mental] health.

“And also myself to be in a space whereby I stopped thinking a lot, because I had a lot of thoughts if I’m good or bad but when it comes to family it’s something where I need to make sure that I protect and I make decisions that help me and also my family to feel good and I also feel good.”