Patrick 'Tito' Maswanganyi has been lauded for his role as an entertainer on the field for Orlando Pirates.
With football evolving all the time, there have been discussions on whether dribbling still has a place in the game where results are in demand.
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Another player who doesn't shy away from using his skills on the field is Kaizer Chiefs starlet Mfundo Vilakazi, although the 18-year-old was subjected to some criticism for his display on Sunday as Amakhosi lost 4-0 against Tanzanian giants Young Africans in the Toyota Cup in Bloemfontein.
Former Pirates dribbling wizard Daniel 'Sailor' Tshabalala is impressed with how Maswanganyi has been able to use his skills to good effect at the Buccaneers.
"Pirates are a club known for entertaining, and therefore it is important that, that part of their play doesn't change. The team should seek to entertain all the time. I know that the results are important, but a team shouldn't bore the fans. Football is football for the fans, and these are the people who go to the stadiums expecting to be entertained. You cannot be a team that is playing long balls and expect people to come to the stadium to watch that, it is not going to happen," said Tshabalala, speaking exclusively to the Siya crew.
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"I have been crying about one thing, and that's about the pace of the game. The pace must fluctuate during the game. Look at how the national team of Spain is playing, and I'm making an example about Spain while that is how our teams should be playing, because that's our identity, our type of game. It's our thing.
"We had Thapelo Liau, and he used to play like that, and he was our slow poison. We had Gift Leremi and Lebohang Mokoena and they would give you speed. (Joseph) 'Duku Duku' Makhanya and Steve Lekoelea would give you skill, and you've got to have that kind of variety and mix it up. Now, as a coach, I can tell you, my teams are entertaining.
"I don't want my teams to be out there boring people. But I am not saying that I encourage those other things of players kneeling on the ball and other funny stuff. Tito is doing well. People who don't like how Tito is playing should go and watch the other leagues. Tito is a perfect example of an entertainer with the way he is playing, and that's the kind of football that people want to watch. Whenever he does those things, it also allows him time to navigate, that's how I see it. He isn't dribbling just for the sake of dribbling, but it allows him to invite opponents and to open space for teammates. In other words, it is called game management," he said.
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