One thing you can always count on when it comes to African football is entertainment. Even in a reserve match for the South African Premier Division, players are not shy about turning on the style. Watching this reserve team for the Kaizer Chiefs showboat is pure love.
The above clip comes from late in a reserve match between the Kaizer Chiefs and Platinum Stars. The Chiefs, up 4-2, start off kicking the ball around to kill time, making poor No. 22 run in circles after the ball. The clip soon descends into a pure Kaizer Chiefs showboat extravaganza.
The Kaizier Chiefs, not to be confused with the Kaiser Chiefs, dance on the ball, clutch their knees during kicks and do what looks like a shark impression in what I assume is an attempt to keep Donald Trump from coming to their matches. There is more style in the two-minute Kaizer Chiefs showboat clip than you’ll see in an entire season of Major League Soccer.
The Kaizer Chiefs showboat all in good fun. Photo: Streamable
Showboating is part of the culture in African football, done not so much to disrespect the opponent but to thrill the crowd. We’re just glad Gennaro Gattuso wasn’t on the other team or some of the Chiefs players might have lost a leg or two. The Platinum Stars were good sports and didn’t take any of it personally, which is important because it's not difficult to imagine any number of European and American players who would get upset and commit harmful fouls.
We'd love to see more of this in European football, so Pep Guardiola needs to start instructing his team to embarrass opponents during matches. At least when they're not playing Wigan.
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