Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates striker Katlego Mashego has slammed Patrick Maswanganyi for showboating even if it is unnecessary.
According to Kick Off, Mashego was not pleased with Patrick Maswanganyiʼs showboating against Cape Town City in the MTN8 Cup.
Coaches, for the most part, have their favourite players, for various reasons, after allegations were also made in the Pirates camp that Deon Hotto seemed to have experienced preferential treatment, as he was always in the starting line-up.
This is an argument that created a division and animosity within the squad, particularly between Hotto and Thembinkosi Lorch, following revelations on the club’s documentary aired on SuperSport TV.
Maswanganyi, a clear crowd favourite and reigning PSL Players’ Player of the Season, appears to be playing to the gallery, with his showboating going as far as the Buccaneers’ own half in their latest match.
‘Tito’ almost cost the team a goal in the MTN8 semi-final first leg against Cape Town City in midweek, after he looked to dribble near the side’s box and then gave the ball away cheaply, with Sipho Chaine pulling off a breathtaking save from the resultant chance for the opposition.
With the crowd always looking expecting Kasi Flava from Maswanganyi, the midfielder appears to be giving in and neglecting to prioritize team before individual talent.
According to former Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns striker Katlego Mashego, what the 26-year-old is currently doing, occupying centre-back positions, in some instances, just to showboat on the ball, is “childish”.
“After that, he passed the opponent,” Mashego lamented on Metro FM Sports.
“I’m a fan of the so-called South African flair and all that, but if it’s not productive, it’s not eliminating any player, it’s not a defence-splitting pass with the back heel, if it’s not that, for me it’s a bit useless.
“What he did, maybe he forgot where he was, it almost ended up in a goal. That was, I would not want to say childish, we’re talking about a brother that is a bit older, but that was unnecessary and it ended up being nothing.
“He did that in the other game, he spinned the ball, he played a one-two, it ended up in the box and it was almost a goal [for Pirates],” he added.
“[But in this instance] he’s going backwards, it’s not okay. I look at football differently, maybe it’s because I wasn’t skillful, but I feel and believe that every player in the pitch has to have a certain limited time on the ball. Move the ball, the ball is quicker than anyone.”‘
Riveiro’s team has been well-structured in the past two seasons, with a clear tactical discipline. However, there are cracks of a side losing that identity somewhat in these early stages of the season.
