Patrick Maswanganyi and his new club Al Khaldiya suffered a 3-1 defeat to Al Kuwait in the Asian Champions League on Wednesday evening. The South African midfielder, better known as Tito, started the match but was taken off after 55 minutes. He managed just 29 touches during his time on the pitch.

Al Khaldiya travelled to Kuwait for the AFC Champions League Two Group A clash. Al Kuwait took the lead just after half-time through Faisal Zayed Al-Harbi. They later added a penalty from Yousef Naser and a late goal in stoppage time to seal the win. Al Khaldiya pulled one back through Gleison Moreira in the 80th minute, but it was not enough to change the result. The loss leaves Al Khaldiya with one point from two group games.

Maswanganyi joined Al Khaldiya from Orlando Pirates in August this year. The 28-year-old left the Buccaneers after a successful spell in Soweto. He helped the club win several trophies, including the league title, and became a firm favourite with the supporters. He was also named Players’ Player of the Season during his time at the club. Many South African fans followed his move closely as he took the step to play abroad for the first time.

At his new club, Maswanganyi made a positive start in the Bahraini league. He provided two assists in one of his early appearances as Al Khaldiya picked up important points. Those performances raised hopes that he could make a strong impact in the Asian competition as well. However, Wednesday’s match proved more difficult. His limited involvement and early substitution suggest he is still finding his rhythm at this level.

The result is a setback for both the player and the team. Al Khaldiya had drawn their opening group game and were looking for their first win in the competition. Instead, they leave Kuwait empty-handed. For Maswanganyi, the focus will now turn to recovering quickly and showing better form in the next matches. Supporters back home will hope he can regain the confidence and influence he showed at Orlando Pirates.

The campaign continues for Al Khaldiya, and there is still time for Maswanganyi to make his mark. A stronger showing in the coming fixtures would help both him and the club as they chase qualification from the group.

Source: https://x.com/iDiskiTimes/status/2110443890776170683