Former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune has hailed the impact of Patrick Maswanganyi after his netted his first goal for South Africa.
Maswanganyi netted a stunning second goal as Bafana downed Uganda 2-0 in Kampala to move top of Group K with 11 points from five games.
It marks an unbeaten campaign going into their final qualifier in Cape Town, where they will host South Sudan at the DHL Stadium.
A lot has been debated about ‘Tito’ and his readiness to deliver on the international stage, more so, as Themba Zwane, the first choice playmaker in the squad, suffered a serious injury in the previous FIFA international break.
Luke Le Roux started in the ‘Mshishi’ role this afternoon but was later replaced by the Orlando Pirates star, who staked his claim for a starting role next week Tuesday.
“Themba Zwane is surely going to be missed but I think Tito must also raise his hand, and emulate what Themba Zwane has done,” Khune said on SABC Sport.
“Yes there can only be one Themba Zwane, there can only be one Tito, but when given the opportunity, deliver, which he did exactly that today.”
“What I liked about Tito [when he came on], he read the game. As soon as he played that ball to Rayners, he made a late run into the box and no defender was expecting that to happen.
“But again, let’s give him [credit] for his composure and his finish, it’s not easy for a goalkeeper to come across from his near-post, to go close the far post and still go back to his first post.
“Credit to Tito, to beat the defender, his composure in the box and hitting the ball across the goalkeeper’s body.”
South Africa now look poised to win Group K going into the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, and qualified before the game against the Cranes due to Congo Brazzaville losing 3-2 to South Sudan on Thursday afternoon.
