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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="footballco-bet-betsense">{"type":"footballco-bet-betsense","data":{}}</script><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><ul><li>Sono defends himself from fans criticism</li><li>He made controversial comments about Maswanganyi</li><li>The number 10 jersey has been retired at Pirates</li></ul><div class="affiliate-button-container theme-1" data-name="GOAL WhatsApp"><div class="affiliate-button"><img class="logo" height="40" width="72" src="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt867c2f6b843505e9/file.png" style="width: 72;height: 40;"><span class="affiliate-text">Follow GOAL ZA's official WhatsApp channel!</span></div><a href="https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vae4thkJZg4CmvuUtR3C" class="affiliate-button-link" target="_blank">Join now</a></div><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Jomo Sono defends himself after criticism of his comments on Orlando Pirates star Patrick Maswanganyi wearing the number 10 jersey - 'I scored my first goal at age 15'

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<p>Orlando Pirates legend Jomo Sono has come out to defend himself from fans after they criticised him following his<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/sono-tears-into-orlando-pirates-star-maswanganyi-for-pointless-showboating-and-claims-tito-is-no-match-despite-getting-no-10-jersey-i-saw-him-dancing-on-the-ball-going-towards-his-own-goal/blt7b907170b9307857" target="_blank"> remarks about the team’s jersey number 10</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>The Jomo Cosmos owner<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/the-sono-family-will-give-orlando-pirates-management-problems-when-irvin-khoza-goes-tito-maswanganyi-never-asked-for-jomo-s-jersey-no-10-is-nothing-at-kaizer-chiefs-and-mamelodi-sundowns-fans/blteca3e27b11f843ff" target="_blank"> faced criticism in recent weeks</a> after referring to Patrick Maswanganyi as an ant compared to him and suggesting he is far away from deserving to wear the famous jersey.&nbsp;</p><p>However, Sono has now doubled down on his view that no one comes close to him in terms of playing football in the current Pirates squad and across the rest of the league.&nbsp;</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>"Every human being has got a right to raise his opinion, football is an opinion game. And those who are saying I don't have respect...I didn't want to discuss this issue of number 10 because to me it's closed," Sono said on The <a href=" https://youtu.be/5angc_hk8oA?si=_GMR1n48TjLuexz-" target="_blank">Bettor Podcast</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>"But honestly, you can't compare, it does not matter how much you hate Jomo Sono, but you can't compare. I will give you two incidents whereby you can not compare, I am not mentioning any player, I am saying you can't compare.&nbsp;</p><p>"I am talking about the greatness of that person who was wearing jersey number 10. That person who was wearing jersey number 10, at the age of 15 he was the youngest professional soccer player in South Africa," he explained.&nbsp;</p><p>"At the age of 15, he scored his first goal, I am not saying 26 or 27, but at 15 I scored my first professional goal. At the age of 17, I flew out of the country to play for Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, so I closed it there, now you want to compare me with people who are 27, or 28? Come on," added the football icon.&nbsp;</p><p>"I think it's incomparable. You can't compare, so that is why I wanted to let it rest. If Dr. Irvin Khoza decides to give the jersey to anybody, he can give it to them, I don't have a right."</p><p></p>

WHAT WAS SAID

<p>Maswanganyi<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/maswanganyi-proud-to-get-iconic-number-10-jersey-worn-by-orlando-pirates-and-real-madrid-legends-people-used-to-call-me-figo/blt00fb6b7df186eef5" target="_blank"> has been given the iconic jersey number 10 </a>at Pirates for the Caf Champions League games as the jersey is only prohibited from being used in the domestic league.</p><p>Bucs' legends such as Teboho Moloi, Blessing Mgidi, and Steve Leokolea, just to mention a few, had worn the jersey before it was officially retired two decades ago in honour of Sono.&nbsp;</p><p>The Black Prince of SA soccer, as the veteran football administrator is referred to, played alongside the likes of the late Brazilian star Edson Nascimento better known as Pele, during his playing times.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Sono has said that Dr. Irvin Khoza can hand jersey number 10 to a deserving player, and it would be interesting to see if that would eventually happen, and who would get to wear that famous jersey in the league.&nbsp;</p><p>For now, Maswanganyi will wear the shirt when Pirates host Jwaneng Galaxy FC on Saturday in the second leg of the second preliminary round of the Caf Champions League.&nbsp;</p><p>Jose Riveiro's side will then switch their focus to the Premier Soccer League as they will welcome Polokwane City to the Orlando Stadium next week.&nbsp;</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Jomo Sono defends himself after criticism of his comments on Orlando Pirates star Patrick Maswanganyi wearing the number 10 jersey - 'I scored my first goal at age 15' | Goal.com South Africa

The former Bafana Bafana coach had angered the Buccaneers fans with his recent negative opinions about current Bucs players. 

Jomo Sono defends himself after criticism of his comments on Orlando Pirates star Patrick Maswanganyi wearing the number 10 jersey - &apos;I scored my first goal at age 15&apos;