Bringing back the flair: Why South African football needs to embrace kasi flavour
Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Mduduzi Shabalala is steadily making his mark as one of South Africa’s brightest young talents. Photo: Itumeleng English/Independent Media
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Media
Mduduzi Shabalala and Bradley Cross got fans on their feet during Kaizer Chiefs’ CAF Confederation Cup win over AS Simba at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto.
With Amakhosi leading 3-0 on the day and on aggregate, and cruising into the next round of the competition, Shabalala and Cross decided to display some skill as the Simba players struggled to get the ball back.
Shabalala, who is slowly finding his feet and making a name for himself with Abafana bokuthula noxolo, as well as Bafana Bafana, was first with the silky moves as he stepped over the ball before passing it back to Cross.
The 24-year-old Cross flicked it up on to his head, drawing a louder cheer than his teammate from the fans at Dobsonville.
The crowd’s reaction to such flair often fuels the players, creating a feedback loop of confidence, rhythm, and control that can turn an ordinary win into a statement performance, and an entertaining day out at the game for supporters.
While the moves would draw criticism from a European crowd, in the South African context, where fans go to games to see players freely express themselves with the ball, players get praised. It’s idiski.
The likes of Scara Ngobese and Jabu Mahlangu – formerly Pule – were known for such moves during their heyday. Once European coaches got hold of them, they lost their freedom and expressed themselves less.
And going even further back, the likes of Nelson "Teenage" Dladla, Patrick “Ace” Ntsoelengoe did their fair share of entertaining, which brought fans to the stadiums.
In recent years, we have seen much less of that as the mavericks have disappeared. It’s no wonder that domestic clubs struggle to attract fans to their stadiums.
If players like Shabalala, Cross, and others who like to show what they can do with the ball at their feet continue to entertain, the more fans will warm up to them, and the more they will start to attend games on a regular basis.
It’s time for South African football to embrace the Kasi flavour again.
With Bafana Bafana returning to the global stage in 2026, it’s time to show the world how we play the game – with creativity, skill, and unmistakable flair.
Mamelodi Sundowns’ “shoe shine and piano” at the Club World Cup earlier this year reminded everyone that South African football can dazzle on the biggest stages. But it’s not just about one club or one moment; it’s about a style and rhythm that runs through our football culture. Encouraging players to express themselves freely, take risks, and entertain is the soul of South African football.
If nurtured, that flair can excite fans at home, inspire the next generation, and prove to the world that Mzansi football has a character all its own.
And on days like this at Dobsonville, when young stars like Shabalala and Cross remind supporters why they fell in love with the game in the first place, it feels as if South African football is rediscovering its soul.
The flair, the rhythm, the joy – idiski in its purest form – is what sets the local game apart. If that spirit continues to shine through, not only will the stands fill again, but the pride and identity that once defined Mzansi football will burn brighter than ever.
IOL Sport
* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.
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