Tito Maswanganyi explains his view on showboating

Patrick “Tito” Maswanganyi has said his coach at Al Khaldiyah wants him to showboat, but the midfielder does not feel like doing it while he is playing outside South Africa, according to iDiski Times.

The 28-year-old, who previously played for Orlando Pirates, made the comments to the South Africa Football Journalists Association (SAFJA) earlier this week.

A coach who wants the skills

Asked about his flair on the ball, Maswanganyi said his new coach is in favour of it. “My coach wants me to do them,” he said, referring to his skills.

He explained that he sees things differently himself. Because he is not in South Africa, he said, he does not feel like performing them.

Part of local football culture

Maswanganyi is well known for his tricks on the pitch, including standing on top of the ball. The habit has drawn criticism from some of his former coaches and from supporters, who felt at times that it was not productive or did not help the team.

He said he regards showboating as part of South African football culture. “I grew up in Tembisa watching games and that’s how they played,” he said.

He added that people who watched football in earlier years have told his generation that the old players played great football. When he looks at videos of those players, he said, they were showboating as well.

Maswanganyi accepts that it has a place in the game, but said knowing when to do it is not always simple. In the heat of a match, he said, you can find yourself in a moment where you do not realise whether you should do it or not.

He also pointed to the split among supporters. “There’s fans who love it and there’s fans that go against it,” he said.

The interview gives a glimpse of how the midfielder balances his instincts, the expectations of his new coach and the opinions of fans back home.

This story is based on reporting by iDiski Times.