AFRICAN WAY OF PLAYING SOCCER

In the past, the very past, the past that seem so long ago, not as far as “Ace” Ntsoelengoe past, at least Doctor Khumalo past, there was a term that used to go around, ‘African Football’ or ‘African Style of play’ in the words Bra S’bu Mseleku.

It’s amazing how things have changed. One day, not too long ago, Pirates were playing Tottenham Hotspurs. They were leading by two goals to one and they had the likes of Steve Lekoelea, Joseph Makhanya, Sailor Tshabalala, Lebohang Mokoena, Mbulelo Mabizela and the late Lesley Manyathela in their team. They totally overhauled Spurs with their physicality and showed quite a bit of skill and sometimes taunting Spurs with some of their tricks. After the match, the then Spurs manager, Glen Hoddle, was not pleased at all, it started a short war of words in the media about the alleged 'lack of respect' shown by Pirates and the Pirates Brand manager claimed that this was ‘the way that South African football was played’ and that Hoddle must have expected his player to 'seeking autographs' from the visiting superstars!!

For South African, it was never about disrespect, it was indeed the way of South African football. When Doctor Khumalo collected the ball on the right and dribble passed an oncoming opponent and performs a ‘shibobo’ on the next, the pass to ‘shoes’ Mosoeu who performs a ‘tsamaya’ on the opposition plays the ball through for Mark Williams to finish, that’s what we call a ‘goal made in South Africa’ …

On Tuesday, 19th July, Pirates played Tottenham Hotspurs again. After being one-all in the second stanza, Pirates player started playing around with the ball. Mike Mayambela, Tlou Sekgoleloa, Andile Jali, Oupa Manyesa and others did their thing with the ball. The crowd loved every bit of it. The sound of the song mixed with the glorious noise of the mighty vuvuzelas were the clear prove that everyone at the venue loved what they were seeing, the resurrection of ‘the South African way of playing soccer’.

This writer was on twitter when all this occurred; I was amazed to see how many of us have forgotten the way Africa play ‘the beautiful game. I was surprised by the comments that came through the social network. They were talking about how Pirates must learn to finish off the game before they go for ‘shoe shine and piano’. But the reality is, we play a very attractive style of football, it’s been happening for a very long time. We don’t just play long balls for no reason. So I asked myself, what is South African way of playing soccer, that unique brand we call our own? I got reminded of the 2003 game all over again. How we were happy then and thought Hoddle was mental for demanding respect when we were playing our own game.

And I recalled what Bra Zacharia ‘Computer’ Lamola, a former Kaizer Chiefs great, said to Bra S’bu Mseleku (2nd July, 1998): ‘Our natural style revolves around keeping possession. Our play is a slow build up from the back. We don’t rush, even if we have to pass backwards. As long as you are in possession of the ball your chance of scoring a goal is 100%.’ He went on to say that they were taught to treat the ball as if it’s their girlfriend.

‘You don’t let anyone mess with your girlfriend, so you mustn’t let anyone take the ball away from you.’ (I know what you thinking of).

Zimbabwean coach Shepherd Murape agreed. ‘In Africa we start our moves slowly from the back. As the ball reaches the midfield we get to second gear and move into overdrive as the ball reaches our forwards. A quick burst of speed opens up the opposition’s defence.

‘This lets African players save a lot of energy. They don’t rush things the way European players do.’

The then Amagluglu coach Bra Shakes Mashaba said he’s confused when people talk about style. ‘To me style is something individual,’ he says. Every player has his own style. All we need to do is sit down and formulate a technical method in which various individual skills and style can be managed together.’

S’bu went on to say that South African soccer, like South American soccer, always revolve around individuals. Orlando Pirates had Scara Sono and later his son Jomo, who could change the tide of the game any moment.

From way back in the past, we had the likes of Kaizer Motaung, and the late Ace Ntsoelengoe, Andries ‘Panyaza’ Maseko, Mecro ‘Masterpiece’ Moripe, Frederick ‘Sugar Ray’ Xulu. This writer has never watched the aforementioned player but I have heard that they dictated the game and often decided the result of the match.

So this made me wonder, Barcelona have been playing passing possession football, and if you read clearly, that’s the type of style that’s been mentioned as the African way of playing.

I’m not going to comment about the 1974 Netherlands National Football Team or the ‘Total Football’ which was invented by Rinus Michels. Apparently that’s what Barca is trying to play. It said that in ‘Total Football’, a player who moves out of position is replaced by another from his team, thus retaining the team’s intended organisational structure. No outfield player is fixed in a nominal role; anyone can be successively an attacker, a midfielder and a defender. The only player fixed in a nominal position is the goalkeeper.

I read Calvin Marlin interview on Soccer Laduma Issue No 730, he spoke about ‘general shape’. He said ‘It’s about being aware in the field of play when this guy goes there you go there.’ Do South African player have any idea of the ‘South African way of playing’ or are they as confused as I am? I don’t think ‘South African way of playing no longer exists. The way Calvin puts it, our player didn’t grow up being taught to be highly technical and physically strong.

Last I checked, South African unique style was ‘taking on defenders with the ball. Having playmakers controlling the midfield and dictating the pace of the game,’ said Steve Lekoelea. You could say Barcelona is doing just that with Lionel Messi totally mesmerising defenders. Pirates seem to trying to do that this season, Chiefs was doing it last season and continues to try to pass the ball. Are they using the ‘Dutch Total Football’ or ‘The African Unique Style’? What is our style? Have we lost our identity because of too much exposure to European football or may be we just never had an identity to start with?

FOR THE LOVE OF PASSION FOOTBALL!!