Kaizer Chiefs legend Itumeleng Khune has lauded Patrick Maswanganyi for showing great quality during Bafana Bafana’s win against Uganda in Kampala on Friday.
Maswanganyi scored his maiden goal for the national team when he came on as a second half substitute for Luke Le Roux, his goal sealing a 2-0 win.
After Thapelo Morena opened the scoring in the 49th minute, the Orlando Pirates playmaker showed great composure when he received the ball from Iqraam Rayners, beat his marker with a good turn before firing home in the 89th minute.
Khune urges Maswanganyi to ‘raise his hand’
His goal resurrected talks over whether he is ready to replace the injured Themba Zwane and Khune weighed in on the conversation.
“Themba Zwane is surely going to be missed but I think Tito must also raise his hand, and emulate what Themba Zwane has done,” Khune said on SABC Sport where he was working as a pundit.
“Yes, there can only be one Themba Zwane, there can only be one Tito, but when given the opportunity, deliver, which he did exactly that today.
“What I liked about Tito, he read the game. As soon as he played that ball to Rayners, he made a late run into the box and no defender was expecting that to happen.
Will Tito get in the starting XI on Tuesday?
“But again, let’s give him [credit] for his composure and his finish, it’s not easy for a goalkeeper to come across from his near-post, to go close to the far post and still go back to his far post.
“Credit to Tito, to beat the defender, his composure in the box and hitting the ball across the goalkeeper’s body.”
South Africa’s win saw them move to the top of Group K on 11 points and head into the final match against South Sudan high on confidence with Tito hoping to be involved from the start in Cape Town.
