Tito Maswanganyi closing in on Bahrain move from Pirates

It’s believed the Soweto giants have all but concluded talks with an as-yet unnamed club in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the 28-year-old to begin a fresh chapter following three successful years at Pirates.

The potential transfer was triggered by his absence at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, where the Buccaneers beat Babina Noko by a solitary goal from veteran Deon Hotto in the first leg of the semifinals tie, with coach Abdeslam Ouaddou confirming after the match that Maswanganyi was not injured.

Pirates signed ‘Tito’ from SuperSport United in 2023 and he immediately became a fan favourite, helping the club win their first league title since 2012 last season by dethroning Mamelodi Sundowns.

It appeared as though Pirates were not likely to lose another key player after selling talisman Relebohile Mofokeng, the reigning Footballer of the Year, to Belgian topflight side Union Saint-Gilloise shortly after the FIFA World Cup.

The Buccaneers also confirmed the departure of right-back Deano van Rooyen after two years at the club, and Maswanganyi now looks to be next despite featuring in all their fixtures leading up to the Polokwane trip to face Sekhukhune.

Maswanganyi will be no stranger to playing abroad, having spent several years in Portugal as a teenager after moving there from the renowned Stars of Africa Academy.

‘Tito’ has four Bafana Bafana caps to his name and was unfortunate to miss out on the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco at the start of the year, as well as the World Cup, after falling down the pecking order.

The imminent move to Bahrain, should the deal be signed off as expected, would represent a fresh chapter for one of South Africa’s most loved footballers.