Orlando Pirates legend Innocent Chikoya has pleaded with supporters to stop booing Patrick ‘Tito’ Maswanganyi.
The 27-year-old playmaker was on the receiving end of the boo-boys following the Buccaneers‘ exit from the Nedbank Cup against Casric Stars on Saturday.
Tito was one of the players blamed after the team’s midweek defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns and against Stars, he was booed as supporters demanded for his substitution.
Speaking to Soccer Laduma, Chikoya said Pirates supporters should not use Tito as a scapegoat.
“I don’t think the word ‘used as a scapegoat’ is the right word. Remember, when the team loses, everybody loses, whether I made the mistake, somebody has to step in for me. We score together, we win as a team and we lose as a team,” Chikoya said.
Tito scored a winner for Pirates in a Soweto derby in 2024
Maswanganyi was a hero last season when Pirates defeated Kaizer Chiefs 1-0. The midfielder scored a last minute penalty to give the Buccaneers all three points.
Chikoya feels Tito can prove himself when Pirates take on Amakhosi this weekend.
“But I think Patrick has proven himself, he has been one of our best players when we played the derby, you remember the chipped penalty? So a person who is like that has got character already. I think he has a mind of steel to go and participate again.”
Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs meet for the frist time this season in a Soweto Derby this Saturday.