With Young Africans star Stephane Aziz Ki' having described Mfundo Vilakazi's showboating as "nonsense", it is seemingly a twofold blow for Kazier Chiefs. Here's a look!
The story
Aziz has caused a bit of a raucous among South African football observers as he made his feelings known on Vilakazi's showboating last Sunday when Chiefs lost 4-0 to Yanga in the Toyota Cup in Bloemfontein.
"First of all, I respect my job because I can say football is my job and I love it," Aziz Ki said in a video footage shared by FarPost. "I like to learn from everything and the football I saw you will never see at a high level.
"You will never see Ronaldo or any other top player doing this when you lose 2-0. It's nonsense. I felt sad when I saw even a young player doing this.
"It's not very nice for me because football is always about control and passing. Not to joke with the ball."
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The Burkina Faso international's comments plays into a long-standing debate among Mzansi football lovers of whether 'kasi flava' has a place in professional and top-flight football.
Of course, South Africa is gifted with skillful players, as the PSL has been blessed with showboaters like Masibusane Zongo, Scara Ngobese, and Thabo Rakhale to name a few. But for Aziz Ki's stressed the importance of keeping the focus on getting the result instead of dancing with the ball.
What looks to be undeniable though, is the fact that Aziz Ki's comments follow a man-of-the-match display against Chiefs, who reportedly considered a move for the 28-year-old before he decided to stay with Young Africans earlier this month despite huge interest in him from across the continent and abroad.
For some, his comments are justified given his elevated reputation, while others seemingly feel that the critcism is hard on the teenager from Naturena.
Here's what some people on X had to say about Aziz's comments:
Aziz Ki must shut the f*ck up!
— El Capitano? (@_izodlalaiTv) July 30, 2024
We didn't start seeing players express themselves with Mfundo Vilakazi.
Neymar got to be top 3 best player in the world at some point, along great players Aziz can only wish to be half as good as they were. Neymar got there by being himself and… https://t.co/QKwsbrHpHq pic.twitter.com/5ieaB4qibf
If Stephane Aziz Ki says something is nonsense it means that thing is nonsense,this man knows football pic.twitter.com/8blEGuNCLP
— SabeloStorm (@sabelostorm) July 30, 2024
He knows that every second in football is important, the second you delay attack, you're giving opponents the extra seconds to re-arrange the defense"
— Tsonga King???? (@NtateWilliams) July 30, 2024
That's his opinion,football is for the fans after all.
— Retshidisitswe (@reths08) July 31, 2024
I think this Aziz is just jealous because he doesn't have half the talent that this boy has. I don't know why people are making a mountain of this incident. This is a quick fix that the coach can address with Vilakazi. This aziz is just trying to make himself relevant...
— Lindenhle Msibi (@LindenhleMs) July 30, 2024
The man is saying when you do that you give a whole 5 seconds for the opponents to regroup and that's elite thinking for a football player
— I Am Not Chief Justice Mogoeng (@CMogoeng) July 30, 2024
You can tell his mentality on the pitch
Cooking them on and off the field.
— Mopheme???? (@sefothakarabel) July 30, 2024
Azizi? What a King!
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