Tito Maswanganyi says Al Khaldiyah coach encourages him to showboat

Patrick ‘Tito’ Maswanganyi says his coach at Al Khaldiyah wants him to continue using his range of skills, but the midfielder admits he does not feel comfortable showboating outside South Africa.

The former Orlando Pirates player has become known for his on-field tricks, including standing on top of the ball. His approach has also drawn criticism from some former coaches and supporters, who have questioned whether such actions contribute to the team’s performance.

Speaking to the South Africa Football Journalists Association (SAFJA) earlier this week, the 28-year-old said he regarded showboating as part of South African football culture.

“Yeah, well, my coach wants me to do them [skills],” said Tito.

However, Maswanganyi explained that he had a different attitude to using those skills while playing abroad.

“But in terms of myself, I don’t feel like doing them because I’m not in South Africa,” he said.

“But being in South Africa, I felt like it’s our culture, you know. I grew up in Tembisa watching games and that’s how they played.

“And also, people who have been watching the old people, they’ve been telling us that those people were playing great football. But when I watch their videos, they were doing showboating, you understand?”

Maswanganyi said his view had been shaped by watching football while growing up in Tembisa, as well as by the influence of older generations of South African players.

He also acknowledged that deciding when to use such skills during a match could be difficult. Although he believes there is a place for showboating, he said players may not always know in the moment whether it is appropriate.

“So I just feel like, you know, it has its time, but also understanding it is kind of difficult because sometimes you become in a moment where you don’t even realise whether you have to do it or you don’t have to do it,” he said.

The midfielder added that showboating remains divisive among supporters, with some enjoying the entertainment while others objecting to it.

“Because also there are fans who love it and there are fans that go against it.”