Patrick Maswanganyi of Orlando Pirates remonstrates with referee Jelly Chavani during the DStv Premiership football match between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at Soccer City in Johannesburg. Image: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
PSL Player of the Year loading?
Patrick Maswanganyi of Orlando Pirates remonstrates with referee Jelly Chavani during the DStv Premiership football match between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at Soccer City in Johannesburg. Image: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Only serious footballers can post double figures for both goals and assists in a single campaign. Orlando Pirates have a man on the brink of doing just that.
Jose Riveiro’s side have scored 16 goals in their last four games across all competitions. Maswanganyi has five goals and five assists this season in 23 league appearances. Across all competitions, he has nine goals and 10 assists in 32 outings. That’s a stellar return for the 26-year-old. The attacking midfielder has added dynamism and directness to the Pirates front four, flanked by the in-form duo Kabelo Dlamini and wonderkid Relebohile Mofokeng.
Last season, Monnapule Saleng was the undoubted star of the show for Pirates. His 15 goals and 11 assists in 30 appearances across all competitions catapulted the Sea Robbers to a domestic cup double. Saleng’s output has dropped considerably this year as he’s struggled for form and regular game time. However, 26-year-old Maswanganyi has stepped into the void.
Hotto, a star for Namibia at Afcon 2023, has been a rock-solid operator down the left-hand side of the Pirates team. Equally adept in defence or midfield, he’s a manager’s dream. At 33, however, his contract expires in June and is unlikely to be extended as he’s currently on R500k a month. The vastly-experienced star has 65 caps and 10 goals for his country. He’s also made 23 appearances in the DStv Premiership this season, not missing a single game, scoring a goal and supplying five assists. To say he’ll be difficult to replace is a gross understatement. Will they live to regret letting him go? Surely Hotto can produce another two years at the top level?
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