Soccer is one the popular sport in South Africa, it is known to bring people together and unite a nation. As one of the most popular sports in the world, soccer can be a great way to start a conversation with locals and put your language skills to the test.

However, the sheer amount of vocabulary can make this a daunting task! Soccer talk can be chock full of idioms, slang, and informal expressions and it doesn’t help that the announcers usually talk at the speed of sound.

This Afrikaans/English soccer terms glossary will help you learn the basic vocabulary of the most popular sport: football.

Learn these words, and you can be a part of the conversation. Below is the Afrikaans/English soccer terms glossary to help you get a head start on being the number one soccer fan.

Afrikaans/English soccer terms

Afrikaans_English Soccer Terms Glossary-pretoria-johannesburg-capetown-durban-2023

English

Afrikaans

African Football Confederation (CAF)Konfederasie van Afrika-voetbal
Confederation of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA)Sokkerverenigingskonfederasie van Suider-Afrika
TerminateAfgelas {wedstryd}
Foul languageBeledigende taal
Accidental collisionToevallige botsing
Advantage ruleVoordeelreël
African Champions LeagueAfrika-kampioeneliga
African Cup of NationsAfrika-nasieskampioenskap
AmateurAmateur
Application {law}Toepassing {reël}
Assistant coach/trainerHulpafrigter
LinesmanLynregter
Assistant referee’s flagLynregtersvlaggie
AttackAanval
Attacker/StrikerDoelskieter
Attacking team/sideSpan wat aanval/Span op die aanval
Away gameWegwedstryd
Away goal ruleWegdoelreël
BackheelHakskop
Backward passAgtertoe-aangee
BallboyBaljoggie
Ball distributionBalverspreiding
Ball out of playBal buite spel
Ball possessionBalbesit
Ball to the handHandbal
Best young player awardBeste-jong-speler-toekenning
Bicycle kickWawielskop
Block tackleBlok
Body checkLyfblok
BreakawayWegbars/Wegbreek
Bring the game into disreputeDie spel in onguns bring
BroadcastUitsending
Broadcasting rightsUitsaairegte
CampOefenkamp
CapVerskyning vir jou land
CaptainKaptein
Captain’s armbandKapteinsband
Caution a player‘n speler waarsku
Central circleMiddelsirkel
Central defenceMiddelverdedigers
Centre flagMiddellynvlag
Centre lineMiddellyn
Centre markMiddelkol
Challenge {for ball possession}Wedywering {om balbesit}
Challenge {for ball possession}Wedywer {om balbesit}
Change roomKleedkamer
Charge an opponent‘n opponent storm/’n opponent stormloop
Charge an opponent from behind‘n opponent van agter storm/’n opponent van agter stormloop
Charge fairlyKorrek storm/Korrek stormloop
Charge in a dangerous mannerOp gevaarlike wyse storm/Ogevaarlike wyse stormloop
Chase the ballDie bal jaag
Chest trapBal op die bors vang/Bal met die bors keer
Chip {short or long}Boogaangee {kort of lank}
Choice of endsSpeelkantkeuse
Circumvent the lawDie reël omseil/Die reël ontduik
ClubKlub
Club assistant refereeKlubgrensregter
Club committeeKlubkomitee
Club officialKlubbeampte
Coach/Head coach/TrainerAfrigter/Breier
Competition drawKompetisieloting/Kompetisietrekking
Corner arc/Arc of a circleHoekboog
Corner flagHoekvlag
Corner kickHoekskop
CounterattackTeenaanval
CrampKramp
Create space‘n gaping skep/’n spasie skep
CrossDwarsskopaangee/Dwarsskop
CrossbarDwarsbalk/Dwarslat
Crossfield passDwarsveldaangee
Cup finalBekereindstryd
Curler/Banana kickKrulskop
Curtain raiserVoorwedstryd
CutSwenkskop/Systap
Dangerous playGevaarlike spel
Dead ballDie bal is dood/Dooie bal
DebutDebuut
Defective ballFoutiewe bal/Foutbal
DefenceVerdediging
DefenderVerdediger
Defending championsVerdedigende kampioene
DeflectionDefleksie
DerbyDerby
Diagonal system of controlDiagonale kontrolesisteem
Direct free kickDirekte vryskop
Disciplinary sanctionTugstappe
DissentVerskil
Diving headerDuikkopskoot
Double cautionDubbele geelkaart/Tweede geelkaart
Double-footedDubbelvoetig
Double-footed player/Two-footed playerDubbelvoetige speler
Double-headerDubbeldoortoernooi
DrawOnbesliste uitslag
DribbleDribbel
Drop ballSkeidsregtersbal
Dummy runFlousbeweging/Flouslopie
Duration {match}Duur {wedstryd}/Tydsduur
EmblemEmbleem/Kenteken
EqualiserGelykmaker
Extra time/OvertimeEkstra tyd
Feint a kick‘n flousskop gee/’n flousskop uitvoer
Federation of International Football

Associations

Internasionale Sokkerfederasie
FIFA fair play trophyFIFA-skoonspeltrofee
FIFA world cupFIFA-wêreldbeker
FinalEindstryd/Finaal
Final legFinale been/Finale rondte
First divisionEerste liga
First half {match}Eerste helfte {wedstryd}
First legEerste been
FixtureWedstrydbepaling
FlagpostVlagpaaltjie
FlickAangee
FootballerSokkerspeler
Foot upVoetfout
FormationFormasie
Foul playGemene spel
Foul throwFoutingooi
Fourth officialVierde beampte
FractureBeenbreuk
Free kickVryskop
Free transferGratis oorplasing/Vry oorplasing
Friendly matchVriendskaplike wedstryd
GoalDoel
Goal areaDoelgebied
Goalkeeper/GoalieDoelwagter
Goalkeeper coachDoelwagterafrigter/Doelwagterbreier
Goal kickInskop uit doelgebied
Goal lineDoellyn {binne doelhok}
GoalpostDoelpaal
GoalscorerDoelskopper
Golden ball awardGouebal-toekenning
Golden shoe award/Golden boot awardGoueskoen-toekenning
Half-time/Half-time intervalRustyd
Handball/Hand to the ballHandbal
Hat trickDriekuns
HeaderKopskoot
Home gameTuiswedstryd
Home groundTuisveld
Home teamTuisspan
Hosting teamGasheerspan
ImpedeBlokkeer
Indirect free kickIndirekte vryskop
Infringement {rules}/ViolationOortreding {reëls}
InjuryBesering
InswingerInswaaier
InterceptOnderskep {bal}
Interfere with playMet spel inmeng
International club competitionInternasionale klubkompetisie
International committeeInternasionale komitee
International matchInternasionale wedstryd/Toetswedstryd
International refereeInternasionale skeidsregter/Toetsskeidsregter
JerseyTrui
JugglingJonglering
kick-off {centre line}Afskop {middellyn}
Knee guardKnieskerm/Knieskut
Knock-out competitionUitklopkompetisie
LeagueLiga
Left-footed playerLinksvoetige speler
Leg {match}Been {wedstryd}
LigamentLigament
Lob the ballDie bal luglangs skop
LogoLogo
Long-range shotLangafstand-doelskoot
Man-of-the-match-awardSpeler-van-die-wedstryd-toekenning
Man-to-manMan-tot-man
Marking {opponent}Merk {opponent}
Masters teamVeteranespan
Match/GameWedstryd
Match commissionerWedstrydkommissaris
Match officialAssistentskeidsregter
MidfieldMiddelveld
Midfield playerMiddelveldspeler
Miss-kickMis skop
Most entertaining team awardSpantoekenning vir aantreklikste sokker
National teamNasionale span
NutmegMikskop/Kettieskop
ObstructionObstruksie
Officiate {e.g. referee}Optree (bv. skeidsregter)
Off seasonBuiteseisoen
OffsideOnkant
Offside positionOnkantposisie
Offside trapOnkantlokval
One-man advantageEkstraspelervoordeel
OnsideAankant
OpponentOpponent
OutswingerUitswaaier
Overhead kickOorhoofse skop
OverlapOorslaan
Own goalEie doel
PaceTempo
PassAangee
PenalizeStraf
PenaltyStraf
Penalty areaStrafskopgebied
Penalty kick/Spot kickStrafskop
Penalty mark/Penalty spotStrafskopmerk
Penalty shootoutUitklopdoelstryd
Penalty-takerSkopper
PitchField of play
Pivot kickDraaiskop
Place kickStelskop
Player-of-the-year-awardSpeler-van-die-jaar-toekenning
Play offsUitspeelwedstryde
Play onSpeel voort
Possession {ball}Besit {bal}
Premier Soccer LeaguePremier-Sokkerliga
Pre-seasonVoorseisoen
Professional foulDoelbewuste fout
PuntKortskoppie/Skoppie
QualifierUitdunwedstryd
QualifyKwalifiseer
Qualifying matches or gamesUitdunwedstryde
Rebound {ball}Terugspring {bal}
Red cardRooikaart
RefereeSkeidsregter
Referee’s whistleFluitjie
RelegateRelegeer/Afskuif
RelegationRelegasie
Relegation zoneRelegasiesone
ReservePlaasvervanger/Reserwe
RetaliateWeerwraak neem
Reverse a decision‘n beslissing omkeer
Right-footed playerRegsvoetige speler
Roving player/Free-role playerVryspelspeler
Rules of the gameSpelreëls/Reëls van die spel
Runner-upNaaswenner
South African Football Association (SAFA)Suid-Afrikaanse Sokkervereniging/SA Voetbalvereniging
South African Football Players Union (SAFPU)Suid-Afrikaanse Sokkerspelersvereniging/SA Voetbalspelersvereniging
SaveGoeie keerslag
Score (noun)Telling
Score (verb)Doel aanteken
SeasonSeisoen
Second divisionTweede liga
Second half {match}Tweede helfte {wedstryd}
Second legTweede been
Semi-finalHalfeindrondte/Semifinaal
ShieldingWegkering
Shin guard/Shin padSkeenskut/Skeenskerm
Short-handedOnderbeman {onderbemande span}
ShotSkoot
Sideline/Touch lineKantlyn
SignalTeken
Signing-on feeAankoopbedrag/Aankoopgeld
SimulationVoorgeëry
Sliding tackleSkuifneerbring
Soccer academySokkerakademie
Soccer analystSokkerontleder
Soccer bootSokkerstewel
Soccer kitSokkeruitrusting
Soccer tournament/tournamentSokkertoernooi
SpectacularSkouspelagtige wedstryd
SpectatorToeskouer
SquadOefengroep
Square passHoekaangee
Stationary ballStil bal/Lêbal
Stoppage time/Referee’s optional time/Injury time/Additional timeEkstra tyd
StudSoolknoppie
Studs showingSoolknoppies wat wys
SubstitutePlaasvervanger
Substitutes’ bench/Reserves’ bench/BenchPlaasvervangersbank/Reserwebank
SubstitutionVervanging
Sudden deathUitklop
SweeperVeër
TackleAanvat
Target playerTeikenspeler
Team coloursSpandrag
Team managerSpanbestuurder
Team officialSpanbeampte
Team sponsorshipSpanborgskap
Technical areaTegniese gebied/Tegniese area
Technical teamTegniese span
Temporary suspension of playTydelike staking van spel
Through passDeuraangee
Throw inIngooi
Time wasting tacticTydverspillingstaktiek
Top goal scorer awardTopdoelskietertoekenning
TossLoot
Training sessionOefensessie
TrophyTrofee
Two-touch passingDubbele aangee
UnderdogsNiegunstelinge
Unintentional handballOnopsetlike handbal
Unregistered playerOngeregistreerde speler
Unsportsmanlike conductVenue
Violent conductGewelddadige optrede/gewelddadige spel
Visiting teamBesoekende span/Besoekerspan
VolleyVlugbal
Wall {of players, defenders}Muur {van spelers, verdedigers}
Warm-upOpwarm
Win-draw-loss recordWen-verloor-rekord/Uitslagrekord
Wing {area}Vleuelgebied {gebied}
Winger {position of player}Vleuel {posisie van speler}
Winner takes allWenner kry alles
Winning teamWenspan
Yashin awardYashin-toekenning
Yellow cardGeelkaart
Youth International MatchInternasionale Jeugwedstryd

Afrikaans_English Soccer Terms Glossary-pretoria-johannesburg-capetown-durban

Afrikaans Translation services

Licenced translators at Afrikaans Translation can help you with the translation of a wide range of documents. We will help you with translations from Afrikaans to English and English to Afrikaans. We offer exceptional translators who will never let you down and are fluent in Afrikaans. Our highly skilled translators provide accurate and precise translations with a certificate of correctness. If you have any questions concerning our translation services, please contact us at 081 347 6060 or 012 348 3134. Your needs will be met in any way by our friendly team. You can contact us by email at info@afrikaanstranslation.co.za or by visiting our website at www.afrikaanstranslation.co.za.

Summary
Afrikaans/English soccer terms glossary
Article Name
Afrikaans/English soccer terms glossary
Description
This article provides a glossary of football terminology in Afrikaans and English, which will aid in your learning of the fundamental terms used in football, the most widely played sport. By learning these words, you may participate in conversations and show off your superior knowledge of football to your friends and family.
Author
Publisher Name
Afrikaans Translation
Publisher Logo