South African footballer Patrick Maswanganyi, popularly known as Tito, has opened up about the emotional struggles he experienced during his time in the country, revealing that the criticism he received on social media took a serious toll on his family.

The former Orlando Pirates star explained that while he had learned to accept criticism as part of being a professional footballer, his family found it difficult to deal with the constant negative comments directed at him. According to Maswanganyi, the online attacks became so distressing that some of his loved ones wanted him to consider quitting football to escape the negativity.

Maswanganyi admitted that the situation was particularly painful because the criticism was not only affecting him but also the people closest to him.

"Everyone knows that I was under a lot of pressure, not really pressure but my family was suffering from the comments that I was getting from social media," he explained.

He revealed that his family regularly came across negative remarks about his performances and football career, leaving them emotionally exhausted. They would rather see him walk away from the sport than continue watching him endure such treatment.

However, Maswanganyi maintained that he understood the demands of professional football and knew that criticism was inevitable, especially when playing for a high-profile club like Orlando Pirates.

The footballer further disclosed that relocating away from South Africa was partly motivated by his desire to protect his family's mental well-being. He believed that moving away would give his loved ones some distance from the social media negativity that had affected their lives.

His revelation highlights the personal challenges professional footballers face beyond the pitch, particularly the impact of online criticism on their families.

For Maswanganyi, moving away was therefore not just a career decision but also an important step towards finding peace and protecting his loved ones from unnecessary emotional pressure.

Source:

https://x.com/iDiskiTimes/status/2119895018596917445?a=EbTXCd4IHpq_D_XjvY0&s=19