The Stars of Africa Academy director Farouk Khan has explained why he is against the comparison between Themba Zwane and Patrick Maswanganyi.
Maswanganyi has displayed impressive performances for Orlando Pirates since the start of the 2023/24 DStv Premiership season. The attacking midfielder joined the Buccaneers from SuperSport United in June 2023.
The highly-rated star has established himself as one of the top performers in the current campaign, and he has already won the 2023 MTN8 with Pirates. Maswanganyi is the product of Stars of Africa Academy.
Patrick Maswanganyi has featured in 29 appearances across all competitions for Pirates and scored five goals while providing seven assists.
His outstanding performances earned him a Bafana Bafana call-up, and he made his debut in a 1-1 draw against Andorra in an international friendly last Thursday.
‘Tito’ as he’s affectionately known, has been tipped as a long-term replacement for Zwane by supporters and pundits.
The Bafana head coach, Hugo Broos, also admitted that Maswanganyi can replace Mamelodi Sundowns star Zwane in the Bafana squad.
FAROUK KHAN WEIGHS IN ON COMPARISON BETWEEN ZWANE AND MASWANGANYI
While Farouk Khan is a fan of both Zwane and Maswanganyi, he has detailed why the pair shouldn’t be compared.
“I think it’s unfair to compare the two [Zwane and Maswanganyi] because we can have both of them helping the national team,” the former Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach told FARPost.
“Themba Zwane has been doing well for Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana; we know his qualities. And I don’t want to compare the two, but I think Tito is much more mobile than Themba Zwane because if you check, Zwane is over 30 [years of age], and Maswanganyi is only 25.
“We have to appreciate how humble Zwane is. He has accomplished a lot, but he’s still down to earth. We just have to look at it this way: Zwane is the present, and Maswanganyi is the future because of his age.
“But we also have to agree that Maswanganyi is a box-to-box player. He’s involved in all phases of the game, which are defence, initiation in the midfield, and the final part, which is assisting and scoring.
“So let’s not compare these two talented players. Maswanganyi should aspire to be like Zwane for what he has achieved and for his successful career. We also need to remember that these players are friends off the pitch; let’s not cause commotion.
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