Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has responded to questions about Patrick Maswanganyi being affected by criticism on social media.
The talismanic midfielder is undoubtedly one of Pirates ' most influential players and it came as little surprise to many when Maswanganyi was awarded the Players Player of the Season award after a stellar campaign last season.
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The 26-year-old, however, is yet to replicate that form to the national team and has found himself on the receiving end of criticism across social media over his performance in Bafana's 1-1 draw against Republic of Congo on Tuesday.
Saleng has been carrying this Pirates team since Riveiro arrived in SA, he deserves that no. 10 jersey. Not the overrated Maswanganyi.
— M P H O ???? (@mphoray22) October 5, 2024
For Tito Maswanganyi to replace greatest Themba Zwane was Bafana Bafana downfall tonight , maybe we should apologize to Jomo Sono ?? pic.twitter.com/ajcidx5zUK
— #NativeOfBelaBela (@tsheko2020) October 15, 2024
Speaking to media at the Carling Black Label Knockout pre-match press conference, Riveiro said he does not believe Bafana struggled due to Maswanganyi's performance and further warned against entertaining social media trolls.
"We are leaving a lot of things for granted with those types of questions; you are already saying that Tito (Maswanganyi) is affected about something where you don't really know if he is affected.
"So it's difficult for me to answer about a third person who is not here, taking it for granted that he is affected or if he is not.
"We as professionals, cannot afford to put our emotions or our mood in the hands of people that we don't even know.
"So when we speak about platforms like social media, it's something really abstract. You can criticise me here, we are facing each other and I can answer that criticism, but nothing else.
"Our players are strong enough, they are well-surrounded by people who support them in every possible scenario like good or bad performances. In this case, we are fully behind our players.
"I think every time our players are going to the national team, they are giving their all – in good games or in bad game, like the last one. I don't think it was a problem for Tito that Bafana didn't get the result.
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"As usual, we are really proud of them when they go, we are really proud of them when they are back and it's going to continue being the same, not only with Patrick but with everybody else.
"But take for granted that somebody is affected because someone is posting whatever – because I'm not there, I try not to be there. For the same reason. I don't want to get affected by it and I'm not 100% that I would be ready or willing to deal with those comments.
"My intention was not to be rude regarding that but that's my point about criticism; so say, the criticism comes from where exactly?"