Xolani 'Blackberry' Nkala Defends Kasi Flava Amid Showboating Criticism

• The country's most divisive township football exponent of kasi flava has spoken up at last
• Xolani 'Blackberry' Nkala made headlines for spectacular showboating in a televised match
• The critics and enthusiasts have expressed hatred and love respectively for his wizardry

Xolani Nkala was the showboating news maker of the year in 2022.

'Blackberry' rose to international prominence in June last year during the DStv eKasi Champ of Champions tournament in Soweto, for his remarkable form of kasi flava.

The ensuing publicity eventually saw him being rewarded with a contract by the Motsepe Foundation Championship team side Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM).

He continued his divisive magic during the recent Philly's Games in Tembisa.

Speaking to Mahlatse Mphahlele for TimesLIVE, Nkala stood up for himself by saying:

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Football

“If you take Brazilian football and put it here, it will be like kasi [township] football. In kasi football, you can do anything like skills the way the likes of Neymar do it. You watch [SA professional football in the Premier Soccer League], and every day we play like we are in England - but we are not in England; we are South Africans."

Blackberry added the recent tournament showed South African footballers have skill and talent, which is what Brazil uses to dominate the sport.

“This is a nice tournament, because we have players who can express themselves with their skills to entertain the crowd. PSL teams must give us the opportunity to play and they will see how good we are.”

Legend slams excessive 'kasi flava'

Orlando Pirates legend, Jerry Sikhosana expressed his frustration at the excessive showboating at amateur levels of local football.

Xolani "Blackberry" Nkala returns to terrorise and entertain at Philly's Games

Football

He was speaking in the wake of the ridiculous levels of kasi flava that have been on display, during the entertaining 2022 Philly's Games in Tembisa, northeast of Johannesburg.

Speaking to SuperSport, Sikhosana said he believes it comes down to the coaches and said the antics seen during the competition were disrespecting the game of football itself.

Chaotic ending to kasi tournament

Chaotic scenes marred the climax of the popular Zama Zama Sports Challenge in Limpopo, Sports Brief has reported.

Like many amateur football tournaments countrywide, the challenge was held over the festive period, but was unfortunately ruined by unsportsmanlike conduct.

The final between Ngove Maspala and Nkomo Phunya FC had to be abandoned thanks to the actions of a Motsepe Foundation Championship star.