Pirates Coach Ouaddou Speaks on Faith in Maswanganyi After First Half Substitution

The touchline can be a lonely place, and for Patrick Maswanganyi, the walk off the pitch just 38 minutes into a high-stakes MTN8 semi-final must have felt especially long. 

But in a show of unwavering support, Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has come out to say Maswanganyi remains one of the team's top players. 

The coach's swift, tactical substitution was a gamble that ultimately paid off, leading to a 4-1 penalty shootout victory over rivals Mamelodi Sundowns.

The strategic changes that followed Maswanganyi's departure were immediate and impactful. 

Bandile Shandu came on at right-back, Kamogelo Sebelebele shifted to the right wing, and Relebohile Mofokeng slid into the central attacking role. This re-shaping of the squad allowed Pirates to regain control and eventually secure their place in the final. 

Despite this single moment of setback, Maswanganyi's overall record since his 2023 arrival—87 appearances with 19 goals and 16 assists—speaks volumes about his vital role at the club.

‘HE IS ONE OF OUR BEST PLAYERS’

“We have to be careful about that – because Patrick is one of our best players, he’s a top player, he’s doing well for so long at this club and I believe in him,” Ouaddou said.

“Sometimes in football, especially me, I’ve been in professional football for 17 years, I can’t tell you how many times the coach took me out because I was not having a good day – it doesn’t mean I was a bad player.

“It’s just it wasn’t his day, but I still believe in him, he’s still very important for the club – and we don’t know maybe he will be a regular in the final – it just wasn’t his day and it was tactical [to change him].”