Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye has made a bold claim, stating that Orlando Pirates star Patrick Maswanganyi is better player than Mamelodi Sundowns' Themba Zwane.
Khanye's comments come after Maswanganyi's heroics in the recent Soweto derby, where his late panenka penalty secured a win for the Buccaneers.
Zwane, meanwhile, has been sidelined with an injury sustained while on international duty with Bafana Bafana.
Khanye argues that Maswanganyi is currently the best number 10 in the PSL, “taking nothing away from” Zwane and basing his assessment on overall performance rather than statistics.
He believes that Maswanganyi is the ideal replacement for Zwane in the national team.
JUNIOR KHANYE SAYS MASWANGANYI IS BETTER THAN THEMBA ZWANE
“Tito is a star player in the country, and I think for the number 10 role, I can compare him only to Mshishi although for me Tito is better, without looking at the stats because Mshishi has been around for longer,” Khanye told Soccer Laduma.
“Yes, Tito doesn't have speed, but he makes up for it by using his technique excellently in terms of how he is able to run behind the defences. I also like his arrogance.
“Look, I think people still remember that Mshishi had to be loaned out first before he was able to establish himself at Sundowns.
“He went to Mpumalanga Black Aces and came back a better player and he has improved over the years to be the top player that he is today.
“But this boy (Maswanganyi), at a very early age, went to Portugal where he played for a few years before coming back to play for SuperSport United and now at Pirates.
“Farouk (Khan) developed him (at the Stars of Africa Football Academy), and the results are now showing. Don't get me wrong, I've got nothing against Mshishi and in fact I cherish him for all of his achievements over the years and the career he has had, but right now when it comes to the best number 10 in the PSL, Tito has no match.
“The boy has got a big heart, and if you don't believe me, show me any player who can kick a penalty like that in the last minute of a Soweto derby, there's no one.
“You can't do that if you are not special. You take a penalty like that, and you miss it, you are sent home the following Monday without a doubt, I am telling you.
“For me, and taking nothing away from Mshishi, South Africa (Bafana Bafana) has got a new number 10 in Tito.”
