The upcoming jersey number ten rivalry between Kaizer Chiefs' Gaston Sirino and Lucas Ribeiro Costa of Mamelodi Sundowns has revived debate on whether Patrick Maswanganyi could even be better if he is given the number at Orlando Pirates.
In the absence of Themba Zwane, Costa has emerged as the talisman for Sundowns, leading the team with goals and assists, especially since he inherited the jersey number ten which was vacated by Sirino at The Brazilians.
The Uruguayan has also shown that he has not lost his quality, after internal politics limited his game time at the Tshwane giants and with a number ten in the Amakhosi shirt, has also become their most trusted playmaker, ahead of the big clash between the sides on Saturday.
After Maswanganyi continued to carry the Pirates team in the CAF Champions League [where jersey numbers are strictly allocated numerically], with a number ten on the back of his shirt, there were suggestions from the Buccaneers supporters that the club should bring the number ten out of retirement, after they did so in honour of the contribution by club legend Jomo Sono.
READ | 'Why are they the ones chosen to wear the Pirates jersey?'
Weighing in on the matter, former Pirates and Sundowns striker Katlego Mashego spoke of the significance of the jersey number ten on Costa and believes jersey numbers should not be retired at clubs.
"He's [Costa] starting to show [his quality], I think the number ten jersey helped him a lot, now he's the go-to guy, star player of the team," Mashego said on The Pitchside Podcast.
"I'm neither here nor the other side [on retiring jersey numbers] but I feel like it's a jersey number, if you wore that jersey, did wonders and you made it famous, I think the next best thing is to pass it on to someone else. Life still goes on, there will be people who will come after you. We should not base your legacy at a club on a number, because whatever you did for the club the legacy will always be there, no one is going to take it away from you.
"At the other club they won double treble, there were players who were key, now you're going to retire their jersey also? Now you're gonna end up with four numbers in the club. There should be some sort of a way of passing the legacy on and also it will give you a little bit of responsibility knowing where that jersey comes from," Mashego added.
READ | Pirates duo | Made in SA Nigeria, praised in Botswana
Sono dismissed Pirates comparisons to himself with Maswanganyi speaking to the media early this month, although he suggested he has no problem if Ezimnyama were to take the number ten out of retirement.