Flair and skill have always been part of the culture of South African football, but over the years, the tradition of what is known as kasi flavour has been coated with mixed reactions.
Showboating versus dribbling with the intent to beat an opponent and advance forward is the bone of contention and an ongoing debate that former Kaizer Chiefs striker Marks Maponyane has weighed in on.
Maponyane, a deadly striker in his zenith, is of the view that showboating is completely unnecessary, suggesting that players like Richards Bay FC’s Ntsako Makhubela – who is one of the dribbling wizards in the DStv Premiership – should use their skills productively.
“Be more result-orientated. Be more of a team player. I have never been a fan and I have always been accused of not understanding the kasi thing.
“Even when I was playing, when those parties started at the corner with Teenage Dladla and Doctor Khumalo, I would always know that I am not invited. I just wanted the ball in the back of the net because I could not do those things,” Maponyane told KickOff.
One player who built his fanbase around a constant display of flair was Emmanuel ‘Scara’ Ngobese. The late Chiefs winger had a trademark 360-degree turn that always sent the crowd into raptures.
However, nowadays, such trickery is frowned upon, to the point that the football governing body, FIFA, have given match officials the license to punish players who showboat.
“The reality is that the game has evolved and you still have players who can eliminate one or two players going forward, I don’t mind that.
“Don’t look for three people (to eliminate), if you are done with one, look for your teammate and let that ball get into the back of the net, and if it doesn’t, at least force a save from the goalkeeper,” Maponyane explained.
“Joel ‘Ace’ Mnini would face the opponent and as he gets there, he would flip the ball just like Neymar would do, and then the defender would not know what happened to the ball and Ace would play the cross so the striker can put the ball in the back of the net.
“We are used to these things, but do it like that for a purpose,” said the former Pirates goal-getter.
While there is a certain level of showboating, display of skill – or however you look at it, what irks Maponyane is the prevalence of this phenomenon in township tournaments such as those that brewed Pirates young sensation Relebohile Mofokeng.
The teenager’s teammate, Patrick Maswanganyi is another player who is slick with his feet, often stepping on the ball just like Bucs legend Jomo Sono did in his heyday.
Off-season is where you find showboating in almost every kasi tournament, with the Philly’s Games and the Maimane Phiri Games, being the most popular during this time of the year.
“Some of the things that I see in the townships, the guys are putting both knees on the ball.
“There’s a game where the team was leading and they all went to sleep on the ground and allowed the opponent to score. Is this kasi flavour? I had to switch to a movie and watch something different,” said Maponyane.
