Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Patrick ‘Tito’ Maswanganyi has called on South African football supporters to show more patience, understanding and encouragement towards young players, warning that excessive criticism could damage the development of some of the country's most promising talents.

The Al-Khaldiya midfielder believes South African fans need to change how they react when inexperienced footballers make mistakes, particularly when those players are still finding their feet in senior football.

Speaking during a South African Football Journalists Association (SAFJA) online press conference, Maswanganyi highlighted Kaizer Chiefs youngsters Mfundo Vilakazi and Mduduzi Shabalala as examples of players who need encouragement rather than harsh criticism.

His comments come at a time when several young Chiefs players have faced increased scrutiny from supporters following inconsistent performances and missed opportunities.

Maswanganyi specifically referred to Shabalala's penalty miss during Kaizer Chiefs' Carling Knockout quarter-final encounter against Siwelele FC at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

The midfielder explained that he watched supporters react negatively after Shabalala failed to convert his penalty, with some fans seemingly calling for the youngster to be substituted.

However, Maswanganyi pointed out that Shabalala continued playing and subsequently created another goalscoring opportunity for his team.

According to him, removing the young midfielder immediately after his mistake could have deprived Chiefs of an important opportunity to get back into the match.

Maswanganyi also mentioned Vilakazi, expressing concern about the negative comments directed towards the young attacker whenever he struggles to deliver the expected performance.

He believes supporters sometimes forget that young footballers require time, confidence and consistent encouragement to reach their full potential.

The former Pirates star further argued that South African football needs to create an environment where emerging talents can develop without constantly worrying about public criticism.

He emphasised that young players are the future of the national team and could eventually become important figures for Bafana Bafana in major international competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cup.

Maswanganyi also compared South Africa's football culture with what he believes happens in other countries, saying young players often receive greater encouragement abroad.

"Somewhere outside the country, they show lots of love for young players, but in South Africa, it's very difficult to show love to those players," he explained.

His remarks have also reopened the discussion about the responsibility supporters have in developing young footballers.

While fans understandably expect results and consistent performances, Maswanganyi believes criticism should never become a reason for young talents to lose confidence.

His message is clear: South African football cannot expect young players to become international stars while denying them the patience and support required to develop.

For Vilakazi, Shabalala and other emerging talents, encouragement from supporters could make an important difference as they continue building their careers.

Source

https://x.com/iDiskiTimes/status/2120132660634828818?a=qqJ90BW67bBbwVN_eQM&s=20