Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has shared his insight on Jomo Sono’s brutal response to being compared to midfielder Patrick ‘Tito’ Maswanganyi.
This came after Tito was handed the number 10 jersey for Pirates’ CAF Champions League campaign, a number that was donned and made famous by Sono during his playing days at the club and was later retired at his honor.
Sono was asked by the media to share his thoughts on being compared to current fan-favourite Maswanganyi and he blatantly said no, “You can’t compare an ant to an elephant”. His remarks were met with great criticism from football fans.
“I don’t think that Patrick or anybody else is trying to take someone’s space. I think legends are legends for a reason in the club, and it’s because the fans love you,” said Riveiro on BucsCamp.
“Even if you provide the best numbers ever in the history, but the people don’t love you, you’re not going to be a legend, you’re just going to be a good provider in the club, a good sign or a good whatever, but not a legend.
“The fans will make you a legend, and I don’t think that Tito or anybody will take the space of uh of uh Mr Jomo Sono in Pirates’ fans’ hearts”
The Spanish tactician said he does not think that the club legend meant any harm by the comments, adding that he needs to have a better understanding of his current position and lend a hand in building the next generation of players.
“I don’t see a bad intention, just a lack of maybe skills to understand what your position is right now and how much you could contribute to the new talented players, to understand the profession better, because at the end of the day these players are also listening to what these people are saying because It’s the history of the club,” he concluded.
Maswanganyi said the comments didn’t sit well with him and urged the former Bafana Bafana coach to support and share his wisdom rather than criticism.
“It didn’t sit well with me, whatever he (Sono) said maybe he hasn’t seen the type of a person I am,” Maswanganyi said.
“And personally, for me I don’t play football to prove anything or to show people what I’m capable of.
“Every time I get on the field of play it’s because I want to enjoy football, and I want to win.”
“As a person, you shouldn’t look down on anyone regardless of who you are or what you do,” he said.
“I think for the fact that I play for the team you played for and did well in, I think for a person like him should be supportive instead.
“So that we can also believe we can reach his altitudes because we’re here to try outdoing those who were here before us.
“And many will still come here at the club to surpass u. So, if he can’t teach us to treat the next Orlando Pirates players right, we will fail to also to treat others well.
“Because we will feel like we’re just returning the favour for how we were treated.”