Kopo says South African football must embrace its flair while demanding end product

Former Chippa United and University of Pretoria coach Kwanele Kopo says South African football should develop its tradition of dribbling rather than dismissing it as “showboating”.

The debate was reignited by Orlando Pirates winger Mpho Padime, who said during an interview at the SA U23 training camp that he sometimes feels obliged to dribble because of the football culture in the township where he grew up.

Padime suggested that dribbling is often valued more highly in that environment than a direct, results-focused style of play.

Speaking to journalists at the University of Pretoria this past weekend, Kopo said the issue could not be separated from the country’s football history and culture.

“There’s a culture about South African football,” said Kopo, echoing comments previously made by Steve Komphela.

“I don’t know what showboating is, like Steve Komphela has said, there’s a culture about South African football. Some of us grew up during Apartheid time, during that time the only thing that could entertain us, the only thing we played in the township was football.”

He said football was primarily a source of entertainment for supporters during that period, rather than a business centred on results.

“And at that time, with a full stadium, it was more about entertainment rather than competition. So I think it’s gonna take time to transition from that, to the business of football,” Kopo added.

The former AmaTuks head coach accepted that modern clubs must prioritise results to avoid relegation and generate income. However, he said that commercial pressures should not come at the expense of the characteristics that distinguish football in different countries.

“Because everybody at the moment looks at football purely from a business perspective, we need to get results in order not to get relegated, we need to get results in order to make money,” he said.

“Yes that’s important but I think the identity of countries is also important.”

Kopo also questioned the use of the term “showboating”, arguing that similar actions were historically viewed simply as dribbling.

“So I think we just need to channel dribbling, maybe the difference is that we call it showboating, because the guy dribbles in a stationary position rather than eliminating an opponent,” he explained.

“That’s why I say I don’t know what showboating is, because in the 80s, 90s, there was nothing called showboating. But it’s dribbling.”

Rather than removing that instinct from players, Kopo believes coaches and other football stakeholders should help them use it more effectively.

“What we have to encourage is dribbling with a purpose, dribbling with an end product. It’s who we are,” he said.

Kopo added that too much attention had been placed on isolated moments instead of the wider picture.

“I didn’t really want to get involved in this debate but I think we’re putting (too much) emphasis on incidents that happened in one or two games. It’s not like every player, every team is standing on top of the ball.”