Orlando Pirates' new number 10 in CAF competitions Patrick Maswanganyi says he is walking on the shoulders of legends by donning the famous jersey.
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That the number hasn't been worn in a regular season for over 22 years tells you all you need to know about how revered the famous '10' is at the Buccaneers.
Two of the club's biggest players in recent years Teko Modise and Thembinkosi Lorch have come close to donning the jersey; however, neither managed to achieve that feat.
In CAF competitions however, rules state that Pirates would need to register numbers from 1 - 42, meaning that the number would have to be worn throughout the competition.
In recent seasons Oupa Manyisa and Vincent Pule have been the ones chosen to don the jersey and now fan favourite Patrick 'Tito' Maswanganyi is the latest to don the number for the 2024/25 CAF campaign.
"It's an honour to wear this number. To have the number 10 jersey is not only a childhood dream of mine but also a sense of responsibility and undertaking of the expectations that it carries," Maswanganyi told the club's official website.
"I have always loved the number 10 jersey ever since I was young. The first soccer shirt I ever owned was that of Real Madrid that my father had bought for me. It was that of Figo. Everywhere I went, people used to call me 'Figo', 'Figo', and as a kid that sort of attention brought a smile to my face. I guess that fond memory is what cemented my relationship with that number 10 jersey," he added.
As he looks to adorn the jersey for the first time in front of his passionate home crowd, Maswanganyi has placed emphasis on a convincing team showing as they look to advance in the competition.
"It means a lot honestly not only to me but also to my family, my friends and especially to those who look up to me. I don't see this as just a number because for Orlando Pirates, the number 10 jersey holds a very special place in the history of this organisation. But having said that, we have work to do so on Friday. As a team we are focused on making sure that we get the desired and move to the next round," he concluded.
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