Amid transfer interest from Rulani Mokwena's Pyramids and recent tactical fallout, Patrick Maswanganyi was a notable absentee from Orlando Pirates' MTN8 semi-final line-up.
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has stated that there is a matter involving Patrick Maswanganyi at the club, which is why he didn’t select him for the MTN8 semi-final first-leg clash against Sekhukhune United on Saturday.
Ouaddou fielded a relatively makeshift squad when they defeated Sekhukhune 1–0 at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium. Goalscorer and Player of the Match Deon Hotto, alongside newcomers Simphiwe Masilela, Thapelo Mokobodi and Mthetheleli Mthiyane, all made rare starts.
Their inclusions meant that familiar faces such as Tshepang Moremi and Maswanganyi were not only left out of the starting line-up, but also the match-day squad – a decision that Ouaddou addressed during his post-match press conference.
“Regarding Moremi, you know that he got a knock in the last game, we wanted to protect him,” Ouaddou said. “I hope to have him in the next game, so we wanted to protect him.”
