Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro insists Patrick Maswanganyi is psychologically ready to play Magesi on Saturday in the Carling Knockout Round of 16.
The creative midfielder received a backlash from a section of Bafana Bafana fans for what they felt was a below-par performance against Congo in Group K's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, after replacing the injured Themba Zwane in the 40th minute.
Riveiro insists the social media complaints have not affected Tito because he is strong enough as a professional player.
‘Maswanganyi is not negatively impacted' – Riveiro
“We are leaving a lot of things for granted with those types of questions, you are already saying that Tito is affected by something where you don’t really know if he’s affected,” the Spaniard told the media.
“So it’s difficult for me to answer about a third person who is not here, taking it for granted that he is affected, I mean he is not! We as professionals cannot afford to put our emotions or our moods in the hands of people that we don’t even know.
“When we speak about platforms like social media or stuff like that, it’s something really abstract. You can criticize me here, we are facing each other and I can answer that criticism, but nothing else.
Our players are strong enough, they have well-surrounded people who support them in every possible scenario. We talk about performances and in this case, we are fully behind our players.”
It wasn't Tito's fault that Bafana didn't win
Bafana Bafana needed three points on Tuesday to seal their place in the 2025 Afcon but managed to get just one after a 1-1 draw. Riveiro says it wasn't Tito's fault and says it is unfair to point fingers at him.
“I think every time our players are going to the national team, they are giving their all – in good games or bad games, like the last one. I don’t think it was a problem of Tito that Bafana didn’t get the result.
“As usual, we are really proud of them when they go, we are really proud of them when they are back and it’s going to continue of being the same, not only with Patrick but with everybody else.
“But take for granted that somebody is affected because someone is posting whatever – because I’m not there, for the same reason. I don’t want to get affected by it and I’m not 100% sure that I would be ready or willing to deal with those comments.
“My intention was not to be rude about that but that’s my point – when the criticism comes from where exactly?”
Bucs will host Magesi on Saturday at Orlando Stadium from 3 PM.
