Al Khaldiyah attacker Patrick Maswanganyi has opened up about missing out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Bafana Bafana saying it hurt him.
The 28-year-old was named in Hugo Broos’ preliminary squad for the global showpiece held in the USA, Mexico and Canada where Bafana eventually went on to make history and reach the second round of the tournament.
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However, the former Orlando Pirates man didn’t make the final cut with his former coach Abdeslam Ouaddou saying had the player listened to him he might have been part of the travelling party to the World Cup.
Tito spoke to the South African Football Journalists Association (SAFJA) in an online press conference on Monday where he admitted he wanted to go America and that he wouldn’t know what Ouaddou meant by his sentiments as he always gave his all at the national team.
“You know, it happened and I had done everything I could with the opportunities I got from the coach,” said Tito.
“And I wouldn’t know what he [Ouaddou] ‘s talking about because if you have watched any opportunity, I got at that time, I always made sure I do something,’
“You know I help the team and I play my heart out. So, for me, I had done everything I could.
“Missing out on the World Cup is something that hurt me, but you know, sometimes you need to live for those kinds of things that they happen in football.”