Kaizer Chiefs DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) coach Vela Khumalo has no problem with players expressing themselves amid an ongoing debate over showboating.

Showboating is a topic that never dies in South African football and it has its proponents and opponents.

One of its big critics is Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, who slammed his players last month for opting for tricks and flicks, instead of scoring more goals, during their CAF Champions League clash at home to La Cure Waves of Mauritius.

Kaizer Chiefs youth coach Vela Khumalo. Image: Arena Sports Show

So angry was Ouaddou that he threatened to quit if his players did not stop it. However, Khulamo sees nothing wrong with showing some trickery if it can change the complexion of the game.

Khumalo not against showboating

“I am not so sure what showboating is,” Khumalo said on the Arena Sports Show.

“But if it helps you to eliminate a player or helps you to go past a player. If your displacement is not zeroing from here and you get to the next level because of that, why not?

Kaizer Chiefs DDC coach Vela Khumalo on the topical issue of 'showboating'.

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“If it helps you to combine and go and get a goal on that side. If it confuses…as long as it is constructive, then for me, I do not have a problem.”

Khumalo says he encourages his Chiefs DDC players to express themselves as long as they make sure it has an impact on the match.

Why Chiefs coach supports tricks and flicks

“That is why at Chiefs we play with a lot of confidence,” he added. “We are so assertive; we encourage that but I don’t want to call it showboating.”

“I am saying if you are able to do the trick that you are going to do, but it helps you to eliminate or pass that level and go to the next level, without losing possession, so be it,” said Khumalo.

Kaizer Chiefs youth coach Vela Khumalo on the Arena Sports Show. Image: Arena Sports Show

The Chiefs legend wonders why all the noise over showboating when some of the world’s best players have been doing it over the years.

DDC tactician keen on style but with substance

“I have seen Neymar doing it in that fashion. I don’t know the other fashion. This one of dancing on the ball and all of that, I think there must be a stage where you allow them to dance somewhere but in football does pass,” he further stated.

Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates during their DDC match. Photo – Asidilali

“For me, if you are able to do those three things and you are able to go past, there is nothing wrong as long as you are confusing everybody. As long as you have been doing it at the training session and everybody knows that when he is doing that, we know what is going to happen but don’t get carried away.

“We see different things when we are in the field now, we are even confusing us. I am not a fan of dancing, the stage for that is somewhere else but in football, if it is constructive and changes the displacement from one to two, then it is okay,” he concluded.