Call it showboating if you will, but this is ‘us’ – it’s how we play
KASI football, showboating, showing off or trickery is what makes South African football unique.
It is referred to in many different ways based on the perception one has on it. For most foreigners, it is something of no worth, unnecessary and useless. It is “not football”.
I am saying foreigners, because this is a value in Africa. It is who we are. It is in our DNA. It is “us”. When someone wants this removed from the game we love, there is nothing left and most games have nothing because this “us” is no more.
I am conscious of the fact that some people want to reduce this “us” to a race matter. This value has nothing to do with race. It is above race.
In the old days when football – like other things in our country – was played along racial lines, this value was always there. It, like any value (respect, humility, honesty, integrity, etc), depends on the attention it is given and whether it is promoted.
For those who were there, they would have seen Dennis Wicks, Lawrence Chelin, the Naidoo brothers (Deena and Super), for example. Most recently, Dillon Sheppard and Steven Pienaar. These players were exceptional but by no means an exception. They had African skills because they belonged here, in Africa.
These are just examples of how African this value is. Whatever the race, all those who live in Africa do things differently from those of the same race but living elsewhere in the world. This applies to black people, as much as anyone else from other non-african environments.
Showing off, expressiveness, exuberance, energy, flamboyance, you name it, is part of this phenomenon, this value.
In Africa people sing and dance from birth to death. We sing, dance and ululate at weddings. We sing and move at funerals when we mourn. The melody, the tempo, the words, the message will always be different and relevant. But singing, we will do, at any time. We sing before the game as much as we sing after. We sing and dance on our way to an occasion, sing and dance at the occasion and sing and dance on our way back. This is “us”. The African rhythm. It has no colour, race, religion or creed.
This is what the late Johnny Clegg would do by joining up with Macingwane (Sipho Mchunu) and sing with such exuberance, as Juluka. Did it not occur to those who talk “showboating” that actually, that is exactly what made Juluka the attraction?
Ladysmith Black Mambazo are respected for the same reason. They took a local product, prepared it well, and made it an “international item”, one that audiences want to witness the world over. People pay millions to book them because they bring what others cannot, “showboating”.
Football is no different
The late Simon Nkabinde, aka Mahlathini, and the Mahotela Queens, have done the same with umbhaqanga music.
There are so many examples of a local product, based on African values being honed well and developed to compete and surpass other internationally acclaimed products, from elsewhere.
With the football, it should be no different. The skills that our players exhibit are borne out of the same material. The players who show this superiority are those whose talents are above average.
In the olden days, they were praised and acknowledged, hence they prospered. I did not see them play but I can imagine, the late Steve “Kalamazoo” Mokone, the late Thandizwe “Shortex” Zuma, Darius Dlomo, and many more, would not have attracted the attention of the European clubs then had they not displayed something “out of this world”, when they were spotted.
These derogatory words that are used to undermine and even demonise the special skills of our young people are only a recipe for our downfall. This is the main reason the players who were (and many not showing today), had nicknames.
They would not have had such good and inspiring nicknames if they did not have something special. Something to marvel at. Mlungisi Ngubane was the “Professor” of skills (today it would be showboating).
People would be Ace because they exhibited special skills. We had Shoes, 16V (Valve), Fire, Computer, Going up, Botsotso, and my home boy, the late Joseph “Nyakanyaka zetheku” Mlaba (itheku is Durban and nyakanyaka represents something very complicated, and complicated he was on-andoff the field). Those who played during his time, (especially opponents), know him very well.
People who look down on these special skills would rush into saying that it should be going forward, creating a goal and so on. Interestingly, the same people would still appreciate it when Ronaldo does a multiple step over and pass back. Then you wonder! How hypocritical!
As we started losing this flair, the exuberance, expressiveness, originality, flamboyance, the nicknames started taking the shape of destruction. Out of sheer respect for those players, I will not mention those nicknames. However, that was showing the direction the game was taking – robotic football, pre-set and pre-determined moves, actions, rigid and rehearsed drills. This, unfortunately, erodes all the creativity, the enthusiasm, the confidence and many other psychologically positive aspects of a human being. More so in sport performance.
Every nation has its own
Before Usain Bolt would run a race, he would do so many things that are unconventional. He needed that to be ready. All those things made him feel superior.
They gave him the edge. The feeling of success. This is exactly what happens when the player does these things and we think he/she is not going anywhere. He/she actually goes far – psychologically and emotionally.
Most of the time, it also gives a signal to his/her teammates, that things are under control, even if they aren’t. It gives the whole team the belief, the motivation, the boost and zeal to move on, and possibly take charge again. It gives them authority. The second goal by Barcelona against Mamelodi Sundowns in 2007 is a typical example. Ronaldinho was going nowhere, then suddenly pass-goal.
Depriving these talented players the opportunity to play the game using their natural talents and satisfying themselves during our training and matches, could be the reason (while acknowledging other factors), they would go and seek this fulfilment elsewhere.
The need the edge, the desire will not go away. It is natural. If it is not fulfilled on the field of play, another avenue will be sought and the satisfaction will be achieved. This avenue will in no time replace the “football focus”.
Can we bring amadumbe and bhatata (sweet potatoes) to the level of international competitiveness? We all need carbohydrates, protein, fats and vitamins in our meals. Is pasta the only carbohydrate available to eat before the match? Did we not have our own carbohydrates before we knew pasta, or any unfamiliar food stuff for that matter?
Every nation all over the world has its own foodstuffs that fulfil the requirements of carbohydrates, protein, fat and vitamins. If not, they would have been extinct long ago.
Are coaches equipped?
What we see with the naked eye is the last stage – the final product. What we should concern ourselves with is the superior psychology behind the final product. The exceptional processing that allows the body to perform such “out of this world” actions so effortlessly.
What is called showboating is beyond comprehension for most, hence the average mind sees it as “mickey mouse”. This is understandable.
When one looks at all the natural behaviour of players from different teams at all levels, before training one will see the natural inclination of the players’ mentality. They make football look the way they prefer. It is very interesting to notice what really excites them on their own without any advice from anyone. When someone or more people are looking for the ball, and not getting it, that is when you hear even the loudest noise. Do players really disrespect each other? Worse teammates?
Even in top clubs with top players around the world the same expression is witnessed. Are these top players also “disrespectful”?
Maybe the question should now be asked, do we coach (myself included) these players to be better at what they already have, naturally?
Can we not do what Black Mambazo, Juluka, Mahlathini and the Mahotela Queens, did and still do?
Mould a local product to compete and surpass others at international level.