Showboating in soccer should be encouraged
Showboating is part of South African football identity and it should not be eradicated.
Baroka FC midfielder, Sipho Moeti's incident has caused a stir. He got booked for putting his knee on the ball, which the referee believed was inappropriate.
Firstly, there are no basis for the referee to interfere in that situation because flair or showboating is not prohibited by the laws of the game.
It doesn't even fall under unsporting behaviour which includes things like verbal abuse or taunting of an opponent, an excessive celebration following a scoring play, or feigning injury.
The player touched the ball with his knee and it's a legal part of the body to touch the ball with.
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Secondly, is it counterproductive?
No, you don't always have to dribble to beat or to go past your opponents. If you are leading in a cup game sometimes you need to manage the game and slow down the tempo. Showboating is a creative and entertaining form of ball retention.
What would you rather watch? Corner-flagging or trickery?
The coach can only discourage it if it upsets the balance of the team's dynamic, the referee must not get involved.
Look how nicely Bidvest Wits players circulate the ball in the MTN8 final against Mamelodi Sundowns. It's entertaining and it frustrates the opponents while passing the time
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