Soccer fashion spectacle

When Kaizer Chiefs superfan Alfred Baloyi stepped onto the catwalk to model the outfit created for him to wear at the Nedbank Cup final by top designer David Tlale, Chiefs fans went wild.

By a show of yellow cards, Tlale and Baloyi narrowly pipped other contenders to win a huge trophy at the first Nedbank Cup Football Fan Couture Contest, held on Friday night at the Zimbali Fairmont Resort, in Durban.

A red and blue card-waving audience shouted for its favourite designs as two other creations - by designers Craig Jacobs, of Fundudzi, and Anisa Mpungwe, of Loin Cloth & Ashes - were revealed.

The Jacobs and Mpungwe creations were inspired by the passion of two other superfans: Orlando Pirates' Eugene Khoza and Lizzie Matseke, of Mamelodi Sundowns.

Cape Town sisters Gabriella and Kelly Davids, of design house MilQ and Honey, were brought on board to create a soccer-inspired range in the colours of Bidvest Wits.

Baloyi was dressed like a king - head to toe - in a magnificent gold robe with the words ''Magistrate Baloyi" embroidered in large black letters on the back. He wore an elaborate makarapa - a moveable replica of himself, complete with missing teeth - on his head.

As the inventor of the makarapa, Baloyi's special 2014 Nedbank Cup edition of the headgear did not disappoint and clearly helped him and Tlale take the trophy home.

''It was very satisfying when Alfred [Baloyi] saw my design for the first time," said Tlale.

''Emotionally he said that it was exactly what he had imagined."

Mpungwe's design was inspired by Matseke's gentle nature.

''Lizzie has the bearing of a princess so that's what I wanted to create for her. I wanted to make her the Mamelodi Sundown's princess."

Matseke looked stunning in a glittering gold, sleeveless full-skirted dress and her more demure makarapa. Jacobs, known for his simple, elegant designs, created a slick black and white jacket for his superfan, complete with glittering red pirate's eye-patch and Khoza's own impressive skeleton-topped makarapa.

Eugene Khoza and Baloyi share a makarapa-making studio.

The three superfans wowed the sold-out Moses Mabhida Stadium at the final on Saturday, appearing in full regalia, though Sundowns and Chiefs had already been knocked out of the competition.

Jacobs and Khoza stood on the touchline rooting for Pirates. When Bidvest Wits scored early in the first half, Baloyi assured Jacobs that Pirates would make a comeback and that the final score would be 3-1.

He was right - they don't call him ''Magistrate Baloyi" for nothing.