Former Orlando Pirates attacking midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi has opened up about the influence Teko Modise had on his football career, revealing how the former Bafana Bafana star inspired him to develop his playing style and even influenced his appearance away from the football pitch.

Maswanganyi has described Modise as his biggest football idol, admitting that he spent his younger years trying to imitate the former midfielder. According to the 28-year-old, watching Modise play made him believe that he could develop into a similar type of footballer.

The former Pirates star recently started a new chapter in his career after joining Bahraini club Al Khaldiya SC, which is based in Northern Riffa. He has already made four appearances for his new team as he works towards establishing himself in Bahrain.

Speaking during an interview with the South African Football Journalists’ Association (SAFJA) on Monday, Maswanganyi explained how his admiration for Modise started and why the former midfielder remains an important figure in his life.

Maswanganyi said he enjoyed watching Modise during his playing days and could see similarities between the type of football he wanted to play and the qualities displayed by the former Bafana Bafana international.

He admitted that he regularly tried to copy Modise's style, particularly the way he played and expressed himself on the field.

However, his admiration went beyond football. Maswanganyi revealed that Modise also influenced his choice of hairstyle when he was younger.

The attacking midfielder explained that he noticed Modise wearing dreadlocks and wanted to have a similar look. However, he did not particularly like dreadlocks, so he decided to wear braids instead.

Maswanganyi admitted that this was something he had never previously told anyone, making it a personal detail about the extent of Modise's influence during his younger years.

The 28-year-old also spoke about admiring Modise's fashion sense, communication skills and general personality. He explained that the former midfielder was someone he could identify with and wanted to meet because of the way he carried himself both on and off the pitch.

For Maswanganyi, Modise was not simply a footballer whose performances he enjoyed watching. He was someone whose lifestyle and approach to the game helped shape the person he wanted to become.

The former Pirates playmaker also revealed that he eventually got the opportunity to meet his childhood idol. He expressed his admiration for Modise's personality and said he continues to look up to him.

Modise enjoyed a successful career in South African football, representing clubs such as Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns. He also became an important figure for Bafana Bafana, earning recognition for his creativity, technical ability and influence in midfield.

His performances made him one of the most admired midfielders of his generation, and Maswanganyi has now provided another example of how his footballing career influenced younger players.

Having moved to Al Khaldiya SC, Maswanganyi will now be focused on making his own mark outside South Africa. While he continues to build his career in Bahrain, his latest comments have highlighted the important role Modise played in shaping his ambitions as a young footballer.

Source: FARPost