I was very shocked

“WHEN I WAS AT SUPERSPORT, REALLY I DIDN’T GET TO WAY I PLAY THE WANTED BECAUSE TO PLAY IT WAS THAT SIDE. DIFFERENT I WAS ABLE PLAY TO WELL, BUT…”

The word ‘fairytale’ would probably best describe the last few months for Patrick Maswanganyi, since he joined Orlando Pirates from SuperSport United. In a short space of time with the club, the lad from Tembisa has become a fan-favourite, playing the type of football that the side’s faithful enjoy watching. Popularly known as ‘‘Tito’’, the skillful attacker has been the main source of creativity for the Soweto giants and will have an even bigger role to play in the second half of the campaign now that Thembinkosi Lorch has made a big move to Mamelodi Sundowns. Soccer Laduma’s Tshepang Mailwane recently caught up with the 25-yearold to talk about his dream start with Pirates, who his favourite players at the club were before he joined and why his recent Bafana Bafana call-up did not excite him much!

Tshepang Mailwane: Tito, good to be speaking to you as we haven’t had that opportunity since you joined Orlando Pirates at the beginning of the season from SuperSport United. If someone had told you six months ago that your start at the club would be as amazing as it has been, would you have believed them?

Patrick Maswanganyi: Obviously, I would not have believed (it). You know, coming here, there are challenges. We choose different paths and when I came here, I wanted to make sure that I am in a place where I can improve and learn a lot from my teammates, my coaches and for my style of play to be complemented by my teammates. I found it interesting coming here and I did not know that it would be this great. But I am grateful that I am here today and I am able to play with the guys I have in the team. I am very happy.

TM: Why do you think you were able to settle in so quickly?

PM: I think it’s (because of) who you find in the team. Before coming here, I always used to like watching Orlando Pirates. I did not support them, but I enjoyed watching players like Thembinkosi Lorch and Vincent Pule. So, being here gives me confidence to do more and I am able to improve. With the help of the coaches, I am also able to improve and learn from them.

TM: Well, how did the move happen in the first place?

PM: I was at home and I got a call from my agent. He called me in the morning and he asked me if I would like to go to Pirates, and I said, ‘‘Definitely!’’ He said I should think about it. It took, like, two days (to think about it) and I called my mom. I also called Arnold Rankoko (football commentator) to tell him that this is what I want to do. They were saying it’s going to be tough, but it’s what I wanted from the start, to have a challenging path.

TM: You say it took you two days to think about it. What exactly were you thinking about in those two days?

PM: I was mostly thinking about my favourite players at Pirates, like Lorch, Vincent Pule and Fortune Makaringe. I would get happy every time I would think about that, like, ‘I am going to play with these guys!’

TM: What was your first interaction with these players like and how did it feel being around them?

PM: I felt very welcome. They were very friendly and I felt like I could speak with them any time. Sometimes I got to ask them questions about how things would go in different situations at Pirates. At that time, I was very happy that they were able to share what they have experienced. I felt confident and happy to play with them. That’s why it makes it easy for me to perform with their help, of course.

TM: Did you see your move from Matsatsantsa coming, considering you had only been in the PSL for one season?

PM: Not really. When I was at SuperSport, I didn’t really get to play the way I wanted to play because it was different that side. I was able to play well, but I was not really happy with how I played. It’s something I did not see coming because I had told myself that when I go back to SuperSport (for the second season), I would be a different person, but I did not go back. I went to Pirates, and I was very shocked. I didn’t really believe it. Even though I would come to training, I did not believe that I was at Pirates.

TM: What was it about the style of play at SuperSport that you did not like?

PM: I would say the way we played at SuperSport and the way we play (at Pirates) is very different. Here, I am very mobile. I am able to go wherever I want to go and it makes me play the (kind of) football I want to play. At SuperSport, we played differently. It’s more of a direct (approach) and that kind of football is sometimes very difficult for me. Being here at Pirates, I can express myself the way I want to.

TM: You’ve gained the trust of the team and they have given you responsibilities at times, like taking penalties. How did that come about? PM: It’s obviously motivating for me, and it reminds me that I should keep working hard and that I should not take anything for granted. I come from a place where we have zero and right now I am able to provide for my family. Them trusting me also ensures that I work hard and that I do not disappoint them at all. I need to keep working and also help other players improve.

TM: You use the word ‘zero’ to describe where you come from. So, how would you say joining a club like the Buccaneers has changed your life both on and off the pitch?

PM: There is a big difference compared to what I had last season. Right now, it’s difficult to even go where I come from because kids from Tembisa surround me with love and passion and you can see that they love me, and sometimes they are too many. They ask for too many things and I can’t give all of them. That makes me proud, and it shows me that I can do more for them and I can actually show my appreciation for them by performing on the field and show them that I am able to do more for the people of Tembisa. I am very happy that I am here, and my life has changed a lot.

TM: How do you make sure that you keep your feet on the ground because sometimes all this fame can get to footballers’ heads and then they lose themselves?

PM: Because I know what it’s like to be in a difficult space… I’ve been there for a very long time. This is my second season as a professional. It takes time to get to the top, but it’s very quick for you to fall. I know that, so I am patient with myself. I am able to be myself all the time and I would not want to change who I am for anyone. I am happy that I am like that. I am scared of people (shy), and this is who I am. It helped me a lot not to feel like I am big, but to remain humble and to stay where I want to be.

TM: We’ve often seen players having one amazing season and then they disappear the following campaign. How do you guard against being a one-season wonder at the Soweto giants? PM: I am definitely going to be consistent. It requires a lot of work and practice. It also requires confidence. The more you play, the more you get better. This season has not been as great as I thought it would be, but it’s something to look at and say, ‘This is where I can improve.’ For the next season, I can come back stronger and stronger. It does not endhere.Imus t keep on going. TM: What did it feel like to win your first major title with the club when you lifted the MTN8 earlier this season? P M: It was amazing. I was so happy. Even now, when I look at the award I got for Man of the Match (in the semi-finals first leg against Stellenbosch FC), it reminds me of how well we played in the tournament. Even though we had some setbacks in other games, we made sure that we were able to get silverware. For some of us, it was the first time winning a trophy, so it was a great feeling and we would want to have more trophies as Orlando Pirates players.

TM: You’ve fallen behind in the league as you are currently 10 points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. What would you say has gone wrong?

PM: I think it’s been frustrating for us as players because we know that we can do better. We’ve been doing well, but we have not been getting the results. It’s kind of tough for us, but we passed that and we are looking forward to the second half of the season to improve on the results.

TM: Your performances have not gone unnoticed because you were included in Bafana Bafana’s preliminary squad for the Africa Cup of Nations that is currently underway in Ivory Coast. It must at least have felt good to know that the national team coach is keeping an eye on you…

PM: It was just a normal feeling. I was not really so happy about it because I am someone who does not like being in those types of situations. I would like to be in the squad, not the preliminary squad.

TM: Hmmm, interesting. Tito, let’s leave it ther e. Thank you so much for your time and all the best for the second round of the season.

PM: It’s a pleasure.