Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Patrick ‘Tito’ Maswanganyi has opened up about his changing relationship with showboating, revealing that his approach to skills and individual expression has shifted since moving away from South African football.
Maswanganyi, who built a reputation as one of the most entertaining playmakers in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), believes showboating is deeply connected to South African football culture. However, he admits that he does not feel the same motivation to display his tricks while playing abroad.
His comments have reignited the debate about the place of flair, skills and entertainment in modern South African football.
Tito Opens Up About Showboating Abroad
Speaking to the South African Football Journalists Association (SAFJA), Maswanganyi explained that his current coach still encourages him to express himself through his technical abilities.
Despite that encouragement, the former Pirates star revealed that his personal motivation to showcase his skills has changed since leaving South Africa.
“Yeah, well, my coach wants me to do them [skills],” Tito explained.
“But in terms of myself, I don’t feel like doing them because I’m not in South Africa. But being in South Africa, I felt like it’s our culture, you know. I grew up in Tembisa watching games and that’s how they played.”
The midfielder also reflected on how watching older generations of South African footballers influenced his understanding of the game.
He pointed out that previous generations were celebrated for their entertaining style of football, which often included elaborate tricks and individual skills.
“And also, people who have been watching the old people, they’ve been telling us that those people were playing great football. But when I watch their videos, they were doing showboating, you understand?” he added.
Showboating Remains Part of South African Football Culture
During his time at Orlando Pirates, Maswanganyi became a crowd favourite because of his creativity, close control and willingness to entertain supporters.
His playing style reflected a football culture in which individual brilliance and technical expression are often celebrated alongside results.
However, showboating remains a divisive subject in South African football. While some supporters believe players should be free to entertain with their skills, others argue that tricks should have a clear purpose, particularly when they do not help a team create scoring opportunities or beat opponents.
Tito’s latest remarks suggest that the environment in which a footballer plays can influence how comfortable they feel expressing themselves on the pitch.
Former Pirates Star Still Connected to His Roots
Despite moving on from Orlando Pirates, Maswanganyi has maintained a connection with his former teammates.
Last month, he was spotted at the Orlando Amstel Arena during Pirates’ 1-0 victory over Sekhukhune United, where he watched his former club in action.
His latest comments offer an interesting perspective on the relationship between football, culture and individual expression, particularly as South African players navigate different football environments.
For Maswanganyi, showboating is more than simply performing tricks. It is part of the football culture he grew up watching in Tembisa and an important element of the country’s football identity.
