Despite a surprise snub for the DStv Premiership Footballer of the Season nomination, Orlando Pirates midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi has received backing from a club legend.
The PSL announced, towards the end of May, the nominations for the 2023/24 Football of the Season award.
READ | No Maswanganyi? Footballer of the Season race down to final THREE
While Maswanganyi was named in the final three-man shortlist for the DStv Premiership Players' Player of the Season award, the 26-year-old did not get the nod for the PSL Footballer of the Season final three-man list, voted for by the 16 Premiership coaches.
Bucs legend Alfred "Shakes' Gwabeni, though, does not believe the snub will dent Maswanganyi's momentum heading into next season.
"I don't think he will be discouraged by it," the retired midfielder told KickOff.
"He has to continue playing his football and playing for his teammates. He has to block out the noise because once you start paying attention to things like this, it's easy to get distracted.
"He is a quality player and has done well for the club, that's what should matter to him. He had a really good season."
Patrick Tito Maswanganyi pic.twitter.com/wiWawO6Zw8
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'Tito', as he is affectionately known, made 40 appearances across all competitions for Pirates, contributing 10 goals and 12 assists, which is a direct contribution to 22 of the side's overall goal tally this past season.
The Soweto giants finished second on the log, 23 points behind league champions Mamelodi Sundowns, and collected two trophies in the form of the MTN8 title and the Nedbank Cup.
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