Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi has admitted that midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi is an emotional person however there aren’t any big issues between him and head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.
Ncikazi made the comments in Pirates Part 1 of BucsCamp Episode on Pirates TV where they showed the halftime bust-up between the player and the head coach.
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The episode was shot during halftime of the Betway Premiership match against Marumo Gallants in February where Tito had scored one of the side’s two goals in the first half but missed a chance to get a third goal. A moment the Moroccan mentor read as complacency.
The footage showed Ouaddou being held back as he looked to be approaching Maswanganyi in his confrontation.
In the same episode, Ncikazi said even he has had explosive moments with Tito and is still learning how to deal with him while raising a point about understanding players, their background and also the coach’s expectations as well.
“Tito is emotional,” said Ncikazi on Pirates TV.
“I am also learning on how to deal with Tito. I’ve had explosive moments with him. I’ve had a hand around his shoulder. I’ve offered to come and see his home, visit him and his parents in trying to understand him.
“There’s one part that we miss out, football is a reflection of the society we come from. Players from Tembisa will show you a Tembisa mentality. Players from the farm, from Venda, whether you’re talking a Bilankulu, a Trevor Lamola, all players from that area, from the highveld have got high levels of endurance.
“But once you start understanding those dynamics, that’s how we reflect. Tito is jumping on top of the ball if you don’t permit him to do that, the frustration comes in. So, an understanding of showboating and a Rele [Relebohile Mofokeng] who’s more creative, and we allow him to do that, is still another topic that how much is more, how much is less.
“So, sometimes it just becomes a difference that the coach has got this expectation. Tito wants to do it his way because he knows that it works for him. For me it’s just understanding your players, your players understanding the approach of the coach and the personality and type of a person that he is.
“For me, it’s only that, it’s not big issues. I’ve had explosive moments with lots of players, but it’s just from the father to the son, the son to the father.”
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