Can Mbule and Tito play together?

The arrival of Sipho Mbule at Orlando Pirates this season has sparked debate among fans and pundits alike: Can the former Mamelodi Sundowns playmaker operate effectively alongside Patrick Maswanganyi in Abdeslam Ouaddou's new-look Bucs side? Soccer Laduma's Delmain Faver takes a closer look at their 2024/25 stats and styles to see if they complement each other.

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In the MTN8 quarterfinal against Polok-wane City, which Pirates won 2-0, both Mas-wanganyi and Mbule were entrusted with starting roles. Maswanganyi, who converted from the spot, operated in an advanced No. 10 position just behind Boitumelo Radiopane, while Mbule was deployed in a deeper midfield role alongside Sihle Nduli as part of a double pivot in a 4-2-3-1 setup.

For the opening Betway Premiership fixture against Sekhukhune United, the pair once again featured in the starting lineup, this time in a 4-4-1-1 formation. Mbule’s involvement, however, was cut short in the second half when he was substituted.

In Pirates’ most recent outing, a 2-1 defeat to Marumo Gallants, Ouaddou retained Maswanganyi in a similar creative role, but opted to drop Mbule to the bench in favour of Abdoulaye Mariko. Mbule remained an unused substitute on the day.

The pattern suggests that Ouaddou does value the Maswanganyi-Mbule partnership, yet circumstances, particularly when results are under scrutiny, have seen Mbule sacrificed for other options. With a high-stakes clash looming against Mbule’s former club, the question now is whether the Moroccan tactician will restore the combination to his starting lineup or persist with Mariko, whose physical presence and defensive cover may offer a different kind of stability.

If Ouaddou can strike that balance, Pirates may just have a midfield combination capable of both controlling games and delivering the creative spark needed in tight contests.