Vilakazi: Da Cruz Does Not Ban Showboating at Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs attacking midfielder Mfundo Vilakazi says coach Fernando Da Cruz has not asked him to give up showboating, only to be sensible about when he uses it, according to iDiski Times.

Flair that divides opinion

Vilakazi is 20 and has earned praise for the entertaining flair he brings to the Chiefs attack. His skill displays have also drawn criticism, particularly last season, with some people arguing that the showboating did not help the team going forward.

The South African junior international addressed the topic ahead of the upcoming Betway Premiership Soweto derby against Orlando Pirates.

What the coach told him

Vilakazi explained that the conversation started as soon as Da Cruz took charge. “When the coach arrived, he told me that he knows how I play,” he said.

According to the midfielder, the message was not a blanket ban. Da Cruz indicated that if a trick is not necessary, Vilakazi should leave it out, but the coach never said he must stop doing it altogether. Vilakazi said he understands that the team has to benefit from what he does with the ball, and added that he has come to the same view himself, saying “the team comes first.”

He also tied the use of skill to results. If Chiefs are not getting the results they want, he said, he cannot be busy juggling the ball. Showboating, he suggested, may be more acceptable when the team is winning. He admitted, however, that these moments are not always planned and sometimes simply happen on the pitch.

A balance to strike

Vilakazi’s comments show a young player trying to balance the style that has made him popular with the demands of a side that needs results. His coach, by his account, is not trying to take that style away, but wants it used at the right time.

For Chiefs supporters, the derby against Pirates offers the next opportunity to see how that balance plays out, should Vilakazi feature in the match.

This story is based on reporting by iDiski Times.