At that time, European coaches who landed on these shores adapted their game plan to what they found, rather than asking institutions that existed before them to adapt to their style. Jeff Butler and his Ilk produced fine teams that played with flair and finesse. In the 90s when I first started watching football, a three nil lead almost invariably led to ten minutes of “Hollywood” at the end of the game. Hollywood! Show time. Time to express one’s self. Break whatever shackles may have existed during the normal course of the game. My dad used to call it “ho bapalla basali” literally translated that means “playing for the women”. A form of peacocking I suppose. It was legendary.
On Wednesday evening Mamelodi Sundowns coached by the indomitable Pitso Mosimane, himself a former crowd favourite took on Soweto giants Orlando Pirates. The game was billed as a potential humdinger. Indeed this game has in the past produced drama, intrigue, goals, suspensions and more. Sundowns are perennial title chasers, and indeed winners. In fact since Pitso began his stewardship of the “Brazilians” they’ve not finished outside of the top two positions. That’s no mean feat! “Jingles” as he is known watched his team succumb to a lacklustre Pirates in what was a game that failed to come to life. There were one or two moments that caused excitement but on the whole it left a lot to be desired. With that said, his team leading one nil, Fortune Makaringa decided it was the right time for a spot of “Hollywood”. One piece of trickery led to Pitso reacting immediately and I assume impulsively. On his feet in the demarcated area gesticulating like a mad person. Always one to speak his mind in the post match interview Mosimane bemoaned the “showboating” and commended Orlando Pirates assistant coach Fadlu David’s for his apology for the misdemeanor. What nonsense I thought to myself. This smacks of nothing but hubris. Look, no one has earned the right to act like that more than Pitso, but it still leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
Pitso is entitled to his opinion, but it’s just that, an opinion. How players (opposition players specifically) choose to express themselves should have nothing to do with him. If his players minds are weak enough to be affected by a spot of tricks & flicks then that’s a chink in the armour that should be exploited to no end!
My strong held view is that if South African football stops the tricks and flicks they’ll have lost one more supporter decisively and for good.
