Orlando Pirates legend Teboho Moloi has backed Kaizer Chiefs youngster Mduduzi 'Mdu or Die' Shabalala in displaying South African flavour during Saturday's Soweto derby.
With the score still at 0-0 in the first half the young Shabalala put on a 'Scara Ngobese moment' when he wiped his face with his shirt during a tense Soweto Derby that saw the Sea Robbers registering their fifth league loss against the Phefeni Glamour Boys.
The match at FNB Stadium finished 1-0.
"You know, as South Africans we like criticising everything," Moloi tells KickOff.
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"Once upon a time, an Englishman [Glenn Hoddle] who we idolised because he was who we regarded as the best player in England.
"He came into our country as a coach of Tottenham Hotspurs to play against Pirates [2002 Vodacom Challenge].
"In his mind, he thought it was going to be a walk-over.
"But he never did his research that at one stage in the nineties as Pirates we played against Crystal Palace, and we beat them and when we were winning 2-1 we entertained the people and nobody said we were showboating.
"Then years later the Tottenham Hotspurs coach was beaten by the likes of Steve Lekoelea, Patrick Thwala and the very same people who said we were showboating signed Mbulelo Mabizela.
"Just because the Tottenham Hotspurs coach at the time called what Pirates were doing that day showboating since then in South Africa we are calling it showboating.
"When Chiefs was winning derbies, what were the likes of Vusi 'Computer' Lamola do? What would Malombo Lechaba do during a Soweto Derby?
"Was it showboating what they were doing? No, we called it entertainment instead.
"The generation that followed, what did they do the likes of 'KKK' and Chippa Molatedi during a Soweto Derby? We never called it Showboating.
"Then there was Doctor Khumalo, Ace Khuse, Shakes Kungwane...it was never called showboating.
"The only thing we shouldn't encourage is this one of kneeling down once in possession of the ball.
"Professor Ngubane used to put the ball on the back of his neck, and Jomo Sono would stand on top of the ball and everyone used to like it.
"I would do the 'Show me your number' and Doctor Khumalo would do the 'Shibobo'.
"We would do it to entertain people. The only thing this boy Shabalala needs to be told is your entertainment needs to be in the form of elimination.
"But we can't run away from what we are.
"Now every Tom, Dick and Harry in South Africa is telling us about Showboating, Showboating, Showboating...no they must leave us alone these people.
"Hands off Shabalala, people must just leave this boy alone and allow him to grow, at Chiefs he is surrounded by people who will teach him when to do it, how to do it and where to do it."
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