Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has given his honest verdict on the famous “don’t compare an ant to an elephant” expression by Jomo Sono when asked about Patrick Maswanganyi wearing the number 10 shirt.
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.
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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.
After ‘Tito’ himself stated that those comments by the club’s legend didn’t sit well with him, Riveiro has shared his views.
“I don’t think that Patrick or anybody else is trying to take someone’s space,” he said in Pirates’ documentary Bucs Camp when asked about Sono’s comments.
“I think legends are legends for a reason in the club. It’s because the fans love you. Nothing else.
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“Even if you provide the best numbers ever in the history but the people don’t love you, you’re not going to be a legend. You’re just going to be a good provider in the club, a good sign or a good whatever.
“But not a legend. The fans will make you a legend. And I don’t think that Tito, or anybody, will take the space of Mr Jomo Sono in Pirates’ fans hearts.”
Riveiro also added that he doesn’t think there was any bad intention by the “Black Prince” but suggested he could instead use his status as club legend to help the current generation of Buccaneers.
“I don’t see a bad intention, just a lack of maybe skills to understand what is your position right now and how much you could contribute to the new talented players to understand the profession better,” he added.
“Because in the end of the day, these players are also listening to what these people are saying because it’s history of the club.”
