Orlando Pirates recently gave Patrick Maswanganyi jersey number 10 specifically for the Caf Champions League assignments.
Great names like Basil ‘Kaap se Dans' Steenkamp, Steve ‘Chippa' Lekoelea, and Jomo Sono have initially been handed the iconic number.
Some Bucs fans feel Maswanganyi has what it takes to emulate Sono, but the 63-year-old does not believe in the comparison. He says there is no problem with him wearing the number 10 jersey but when showing his skill, it should be in a positive way and not backward.
Those you compared with me ‘died'
“[Maswanganyi] can have it [the number 10 jersey], there is no problem,” Sono said in a recent interview with the media.
“I saw [Tito dancing on the ball] and going towards his own goal and I switched to English football. He was going this way but Pirates were going that way, I don’t know. I am not saying it’s wrong but the only time I saw him was when he was doing that.
“I entertained the crowd but I wasn’t going that way when Pirates were going in a different direction. Jingles Pereira was my shadow and followed me all over the field. I dribbled past him but he went around to hit me and the referee blew the whistle and I stood on the ball. That’s all I did, I stood on top of the ball after the referee blew the whistle, and from there I took the ball and I went on to score.
“[Tito] is okay but don’t compare him with me because you have compared a lot of them in the past and they ‘died’.”
Maswanganyi is an ant! – Sono claim
Last season, Maswanganyo scored 10 goals and provided 12 assists in the 40 matches played for Pirates. However, Sono insists Tito is not there yet.
“They all ‘die’ after you compare them with me and to be honest, you can’t compare an elephant to an ant,” he continued.
“This guy [pointing at himself] was an elephant. Pirates supporters will never leave the stadium even if it's the 89th minute as long as that number 10 was on the field because he could do anything and at any time.
“Don’t compare Maswanganyi with me, he is a good number 10 for Pirates and let him stay as a number 10 for Pirates. But don’t compare. Keep on wearing the jersey and play football, that’s it. The problem with us is we think the jersey No 10 is the one playing.
“That jersey number is special, this man scored goals and not a goal. I was not just a player, I was a special player and the difference is I played well every week. I was performing every week. If I played badly you would see me on the road jogging in the morning.”
