Kaizer Chiefs legend Reneilwe Letsholonyane has given his opinion on the issue of showboating, saying he views it from two perspectives.
This is a topic that comes up regularly in South African football where players get indifferent reactions for how they do it.
Most recently, Chiefs starlet Mfundo Vilakazi came under fire for displaying his skills in the pre-season Toyota Cup, when Amakhosi lost 4-0 to Young Africans. Even Orlando Pirates midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi has also suffered the same fate.
The former Bafana Bafana midfielder, who has now stepped into coaching, spoke to the media recently where he said that showboating is for entertainers who play in unofficial tournaments, while skilled players know how to use their skills productively.
“It’s a sensitive topic,” Yeye told reporters.
“We have this idea or perception that showboating is part of us, is part of South African football. Personally, I divide that into two. There’s skilful players and there’s showboating.
“For me, I ask questions to say when you have decided that you want to play football at the highest level, you must choose the type of football that you are playing.
“And when you have decided that you want to be an entertainer through showboating, playing in those diski tournaments etc, you must make peace with the fact that you want to be part of those who entertain people, that has sort of a niche market, the diski tournaments where you can put the ball on your stomach and spin with it etc.
“That’s purely entertainment and entertainment that does not really come with money. That is not really business-focused but when you want to go somewhere, when you want to make football your career you need to sacrifice something. You need to cut off somewhere and your skill should be used in a more business-minded, productive way,” he added.
‘Yeye’ currently forms part of Raymond Mdaka’s U20 national technical team as an assistant.
