Funnily, when a player doesn't celebrate their goal, the very same conspiracy theorists will accuse the player in question of not wanting to burn their bridges, as they still want to go back to their team at some point or the player isn't entirely happy at the current club. In essence, if a player scores and celebrates against a former team, there's a problem; if they score and not celebrate, then there's still a problem. Damned if you do, damned if you don't!
I know a lot of people have differing views on this, but I think, for the benefit of the game, it is important that we stop creating boxes for our players to think within. Let us allow the players to express themselves without inhibition, like Thabo Mnyamane recently did against SuperSport United, scoring the solitary goal for Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC to eliminate Matsatsantsa a Pitori from the Nedbank Cup. Even that got people talking, believing that goal celebration was personal since SuperSport United had decided against renewing Mnyamane's contract and therefore let him go as he was deemed surplus to requirements. As far as some people were concerned, Mnyamane's celebration represented a middle finger to his former employers. They say he disrespected (read bit) a hand that once fed him, which is ridiculous! I saw nothing wrong with Mnyamane celebrating his team's goal that lead to a much-needed victory. I was just as happy to see Lehlohonolo Majoro score and celebrate against Kaizer Chiefs for AmaZulu FC, recently. The cherry on top was that the goal was against one of his best friends, Itumeleng Khune. It doesn't get better than that!
Just this past weekend, Thabiso Kutumela refused to celebrate his goal for Maritzburg United against his former club, Orlando Pirates, in the Nedbank Cup Last 16. A well-taken curler, capitalizing on miscommunication between Thulani Hlatshwayo and Richard Ofori. Just like a number of other players, Kutumela refused to celebrate, out of 'respect' for his former club. Sifiso Myeni scored one of his most important goals for Pirates against Bidvest Wits, his former team, in the 2014 Nedbank Cup final, and didn't celebrate. A popular TV commentator screamed, "Myeni, a gentleman, a true gentleman, refuses to celebrate against his former side." My question to everyone who holds the view that players shouldn't celebrate against their former teams, is: Why? Why not stop them from playing against their former teams if scoring and celebrating is prohibited? We are not talking about celebrating an own goal, which would obviously be unacceptable. What message are you sending to your current employer and supporters if you're not going to celebrate your goal against your former team? Doesn't it make you look like regretting scoring, when you don't celebrate? There's nothing wrong with respecting your former team, but it can't be done at the expense of your current, surely. Why should you worry about your former team when you have moved on? When you have a bad game against your former team, isn't your refusal to celebrate your goals going to plant a seed that you didn't try hard enough because you're up against your former team?
As football people, we need to stop 'boxing' our players and allow them to express themselves freely so that they can enjoy the game. They can be cordial towards their former teams off the field, but once the first whistle blows, they are enemies. Whether you parted on a sour note or amicably, as a player you have a new employer and supporters that you need to make happy. Focus on serving them rather than protecting 'lost love' at the expense of your current. When a team releases a player, no one holds them accountable for anything happening to that player, but why can't the same principle apply when it comes to players? Why must players always be the ones nursing other people's feelings and restraining themselves? To me, if you don't celebrate your goal, it means you're disrespecting your current team. I know players think of the potential backlash and stop themselves from celebrating because not all of them are brave enough not to worry.
I don't like to watch a player refusing to celebrate their goal because football is an emotional game. If Judas Moseamedi, for instance, has something against Chiefs, one team he almost always shows up against, isn't that what football is all about? Isn't that what builds characters? You look at our derbies and there are no personalities anymore. There are no rivalries to look forward to. Think of Jerry Sikhosana and Brian Baloyi in a Soweto Derby. Those two didn't even have to say anything to prove that they hated losing against each other. It was evident, but we don't see enough of that anymore because we've turned our players so timid that, out of respect, they don't want to upset anyone. They're so careful what they say in public, even the coaches, and it is all about towing the line. We complain about our strikers not scoring enough when we have turned them into these 'nice' players who are encouraged to be team players. They are not selfish anymore, which is an integral part of any striker's game. These may seem like simple things at face value, but they make a huge difference in the bigger scheme of things. We have, unwittingly, killed and suppressed our strong personalities and characters in the game and that doesn't help anyone. We need to change this mentality!
VeeJay
