Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has lifted the lid on his turbulent relationship with Patrick Maswanganyi, insisting the playmaker’s attitude in training cost him a place in the Bafana Bafana squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 28-year-old playmaker’s sudden departure to Bahrain Premier League side Alkhaldiya Sports Club caught many by surprise, bringing an abrupt end to a memorable spell at Mayfair where he evolved into one of the Buccaneers’ primary creative engines.
He was part of the Pirates squad that ended a 14-year league drought, while also lifting several cup titles, including the MTN8. Behind the scenes, however, the working relationship between player and coach was far from smooth.
FRICTION AND TOUCHLINE TENSION BETWEEN OUADDOU AND MASWANGANYI
Tensions boiled over publicly in one of the Pirates’ documentaries, BucsCamp, last season, where the pair were caught in a heated spat that required intervention from technical staff. Behind closed doors, Maswanganyi was heard remarking in Sesotho: “This guy has a problem with me.”
Deon Hotto, who was among the players forced to physically restrain Ouaddou during the explosive changing room exchange, shed light on the altercation in the Pirates documentary that aired in June.
The Namibian international offered a glimpse into Maswanganyi’s complex character, explaining that despite the heated touchline bust-ups, the head coach’s intense approach actually stemmed from deep admiration for the playmaker—who simply requires a more delicate management style.
“The coach, to be honest, loves Tito too much,” Hotto revealed. “You have to understand Tito… he has a small heart, man. You need to be next to him and tell him, ‘Tito, don’t stress, it’s gone, let’s go back and play.’ He’s that type of guy.”
That friction continuously spilt onto the pitch, with ‘Tito’ visibly snubbing touchline handshakes and hugs from Ouaddou after being substituted, a pattern that carried right into the start of the new 2026/27 season.
‘IF HE LISTENED, HE’D BE AT THE WORLD CUP’ – OUADDOU ON DEPARTING MASWANGANYI
Addressing the media following the midfielder’s departure, Ouaddou admitted that getting Maswanganyi to buy into his tactical philosophy took considerable effort.
“We had difficult moments last season. It took a bit of time for him to understand what I expect of him,” Ouaddou explained. “In training, I always said the job doesn’t start in the game—it starts in training at the start of the week.”
Despite their past clashes, Ouaddou praised Maswanganyi’s sharp turnaround during pre-season, saying the player returned in July with renewed focus and intensity. But for the Moroccan tactician, that sudden shift only highlighted what could have been, specially after Bafana made history in North America by reaching the knockout stages of the showpiece for the first time.
“I was not happy with how he was training, but I was happy with how he returned [from the World Cup break into pre-season].”]…fresh, in every training, full of energy,” revealed the Pirates mentor. “I think if he listened to me last season, he would have been at the World Cup, definitely.”
As Maswanganyi embarks on his new venture in the Gulf region, Ouaddou—who played in the Middle East during his own career—offered a reality check regarding the pressures awaiting foreign stars.
“He’s going abroad; it’s not easy. He will have to be mentally strong,” Ouaddou warned. “There aren’t many supporters like here in South Africa; some stadiums are empty. I hope he finds joy there, even without the fans. There’s huge pressure from the club owners on the foreign players.”
Despite their stormy past, Ouaddou signed off with mutual respect, acknowledging the key role Maswanganyi played in the club’s midfield before taking flight.
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