Laduma! A Glossary of SA Football Slang

South African football has a language of its own, one that was born on dusty township pitches and has carried into the stands of the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

Throughout every coaching era, club rebrand and relegation, these slang words have survived it all, passing from one generation of fans to the next.

Take a look:

1. Diski

Diski is township slang for football. It’s used as easily for a kickabout in the street with your mates as for a pro league fixture. The term reached a global audience through the Diski Dance, the choreographed celebration promoted around the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

2. Laduma!

From the isiZulu word for “It thunders”, laduma is the sound of a goal hitting the back of soccer nets across Mzansi. Expect South African match commentators to shout it – and stretch it out for several seconds – when the ball hits its target.

3. Shibobo

Shibobo – also colloquially known as a “nutmeg” – describes the art of pushing the ball through an opponent’s legs and collecting it on the other side. It became national shorthand after music group TKZee’s 1998 hit of the same name, recorded with a young Benni McCarthy, and remains the most celebrated skill in the local game.

4. Shoeshine and Piano

“Shoeshine and piano” is a flamboyant phrase used to describe equally flamboyant, entertaining football – think flicks, feints and unhurried possession. It is closely associated with Mamelodi Sundowns and is still invoked whenever a PSL team chooses showmanship over caution.

5. Tsamaya!

Sesotho for “Go” or “Walk on”, tsamaya is a way for fans in the stands to bellow encouragement at players (or express their impatience, especially if they’re not performing up to par). Indeed, it’s a versatile word, one that carries a spectrum of emotion from fervent support to a frustrated nudge.

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