Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi has revealed that relentless social media abuse directed at his family played a major role in his decision to leave the Soweto giants and seek a fresh start away from South African football.
The talented playmaker opened up about the difficult period in an interview with the South African Football Journalists Association (SAFJA), explaining how criticism from supporters eventually extended beyond the football pitch and began affecting his loved ones.
Maswanganyi admitted that while he understood the criticism that comes with being a professional footballer, watching his family struggle with abusive comments on social media became increasingly difficult.
“Everyone knows that I was under a lot of pressureโnot really pressure, but my family was suffering from the comments that I was getting from social media. So they would see those kind of things and they wanted me to quit football,” he said.
The former Pirates star explained that he had developed an understanding of the scrutiny that accompanies life as a professional footballer, but his family’s emotional well-being made the situation particularly painful.
“For me, it was something whereby I would understand because I’m a football player, these things happen. But for them, it was really tough,” he added.
Determined to protect his loved ones from further emotional distress, Maswanganyi felt that moving away from South Africa would provide the distance needed to improve their well-being.
“I had to make sure that my family is protected from all those things. I just felt like if I would move far away from the country, things would get better in terms of their mental health,” he explained.
His revelation highlights the growing impact of online abuse in modern football, with players and their families increasingly exposed to intense criticism and personal attacks through social media.
For Maswanganyi, the decision to leave Orlando Pirates was therefore about more than football or the next chapter of his career. It was also about prioritising his family’s peace, protection and mental health.
