After stirring Jomo Sono comparison, Orlando Pirates star Patrick Maswanganyi has gone into hiding but Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos backs him to step in for Zwane - 'I still believe he has the potential to replace Themba'

Patrick Maswanganyi was included in Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos' final 23-man squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Uganda and South Sudan.

The Orlando Pirates star is waiting for his opportunity to become a regular in the national team and Broos is convinced the attacker can aptly replace Themba Zwane who is out of the team due to injury.

“I don’t think Patrick did have already a good opportunity, he was always coming in the game,” Broos said.

“And it was not so easy to come in the game in Congo, because we suffered in that game. And then it’s not easy for a team, for a player who plays his first minutes with the Bafana Bafana immediately to have an important role.  So for him, it’s also a little bit to adapt on our way of playing, on what I’m asking from him, on that position.

“So okay, we will see in the next games, and we will evaluate. But I’m still believing that he has the potential to replace Themba. He didn’t show it for the moment in Bafana Bafana, but okay, we will see," added the Belgian.

“Have a little bit patience, and maybe in a few months we have to say no or maybe yes, we will see.”

Maswanganyi has been struggling for form this season in which he has scored just once and provided one assist in 15 games across all competitions.

This comes as he stirred a huge debate after being compared to South African football legend Jomo Sono at the start of this season.

That also brought comparisons to Mamelodi Sundowns captain Zwane whom he replaced during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier trip to Congo-Brazzaville in October.

It was a match where Maswanganyi failed to impose himself in place of Zwane and Broos defended him.

With Zwane out injured, it remains to be seen if Maswanganyi will start for Bafana when they visit Uganda and host South Sudan.

These are matches that are opportunities for the Pirates star to make his mark on the international scene and cement his place in the national side.