Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi has appealed to Kaizer Chiefs supporters to show more patience with young players Mfundo Vilakazi and Mduduzi Shabalala amid criticism of their performances.
Maswanganyi, who now represents Bahrain-based Al-Khaldiya SC, made the comments while visiting South Africa during the FIFA international break to spend time with his family.
Speaking at a media engagement hosted by the South African Football Journalists’ Association (SAFJA) on Monday night, the 28-year-old discussed his relationship with Vilakazi and the pressure facing young footballers in the Betway Premiership.
Maswanganyi Reveals Longstanding Relationship With Vilakazi
Maswanganyi said his connection with Vilakazi began before the Kaizer Chiefs youngster joined the club’s senior team.
He recalled watching the attacking midfielder play in Tembisa during his early days in township football and recognising his potential.
“We speak, and we are very close,” Maswanganyi said. “He calls me sometimes, and I also call him. I watched him play in Tembisa before he went to the first team. I told my friend that this boy is very special and one day he’s going to play for a big team. But I just didn’t know that he was already in Chiefs’ development ranks at that time.”
During his time at Orlando Pirates, Maswanganyi became popular among supporters for his flair, quick feet and dribbling ability. Vilakazi has since attracted attention at Chiefs with a similar style of play.
Chiefs Supporters Urged to Give Young Players Time to Develop
Maswanganyi expressed concern about the criticism directed at young footballers when they struggle during matches.
He said supporters should recognise that developing players need encouragement and time to improve rather than being subjected to the same level of criticism as experienced professionals.
“My thing is for fans to take it easy, especially on young players that are coming through the ranks,” he explained.
“Sometimes you see Mfundo Vilakazi playing, trying his best, but not doing well in a game, and then you see a lot of fans speaking badly about a player who is still very young for the team they support.”
He added that senior players are generally better equipped to deal with public criticism than youngsters who are still establishing themselves in professional football.
Shabalala’s Missed Penalty Against Siwelele Cited
The former Pirates player also referred to Kaizer Chiefs’ 2-1 Carling Knockout Cup quarter-final victory over Siwelele FC in Polokwane as an example of why supporters should avoid making quick judgments.
During the match, Mduduzi Shabalala missed a penalty, prompting sections of the crowd to signal that he should be substituted.
However, Shabalala later won another penalty, helping Chiefs get back into the contest.
Maswanganyi questioned what might have happened if the midfielder had been removed immediately after his initial miss.
“I watched Chiefs’ game and saw Mdu miss a penalty, and the fans started signalling for him to be substituted. Minutes later, he won another penalty, and the team got back into the game,” he said.
“Imagine if they had taken him off right after the miss. They probably wouldn’t have scored, and they might have lost the game. The fans need to encourage young players; we need them to grow, as they are going to help Bafana in future.”
Young Players Could Play Important Roles for Bafana Bafana
Maswanganyi called on supporters to protect and appreciate emerging South African footballers, saying they could contribute to the national team’s future success.
He specifically highlighted the importance of allowing players such as Vilakazi and Shabalala to develop as they work towards potentially representing Bafana Bafana at major international competitions.
“We need to protect them, love them and appreciate them because they can change South African football. They still have to compete in the FIFA World Cup and AFCON; these are the types of players who can win us trophies,” he said.
Maswanganyi Admits He Grew Up Supporting Kaizer Chiefs
During the media engagement, Maswanganyi also spoke about his childhood football loyalties and explained why he always wanted to represent Orlando Pirates despite supporting Kaizer Chiefs growing up.
He said playing for Pirates had been a personal ambition since his early football career, including during his time attending trials at SuperSport United.
“I’ve always told my friends, even when I was at SuperSport United for trials, every training session, I would always tell my friends that I want to play for Pirates,” Maswanganyi revealed. “So, it’s been my dream club… I’ve always wanted to play for Pirates.”
He explained that his admiration for Pirates was influenced by the club’s style of play and the players who represented the team before he joined.
“I’m a Kaizer Chiefs fan, but I always knew that playing for Pirates would be great for me in terms of how they played and watching the players they had before. When I went to Pirates, I told myself that that was the only club I would play for in South Africa, and that’s where I would end my football at.”
