Orlando Pirates star Patrick Maswanganyi has replied to club legend Jomo Sono’s claim that people shouldn’t “compare an ant with an elephant” when asked about Tito wearing the iconic number 10 jersey.
Maswanganyi, 26, has been one of Pirates’ pillars under Jose Riveiro, and made a massive jump in terms of responsibility since joining the club from SuperSport United in 2023.
However, Sono was somewhat dismissive of Maswanganyi comparisons with himself after the latter was handed the number 10 jersey for the club’s CAF Champions League season early in 2024/25.
Tito himself has now addressed the issue publicly for the first time, insisting Sono should be more supportive of the current generation of players.
“‘You can’t compare an ant to an elephant’ – that’s what I remember, because it didn’t sit well with me,” Maswanganyi said in Pirates’ documentary Bucs Camp when asked about Sono’s comments.
“Whatever he said maybe he hasn’t seen the type of person I am. And personally, I don’t play football to prove anything or to show people what I’m capable of.
“Everytime I get on the ground it’s because I want to enjoy football and I want to win.
“As a person you shouldn’t look down on anyone regardless of who you are and what you do,” Maswanganyi said in Pirates’ documentary Bucs Camp when asked about Sono’s comments.
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“I think for the fact that I play for the same team you played for and did well in, I think a person like him should instead be supportive so that we can also believe we can reach his heights.
“Because we’re here to try outdo those before us and many will still come to surpass us.
“So, if he can’t teach us to treat the next Orlando Pirates players right, we won’t want to either, we’ll feel like we’re just returning the favour for how we were treated.”
