Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. 'Makarapa' Hat Expected to be a Fan Favorite at South Africa's World Cup South Africa's 'Makarapa' hard hat considered essential attire at upcoming football World Cup Darren Taylor | Johannesburg, South Africa 22 April 2010 Photo: D. Taylor A Makarapa designed by Alfred Baloyi bears the likeness of a Zulu warrior waving South Africa flags The chemical aroma of fresh paint and burning plastic fills oneâs nostrils inside the cavernous factory alongside one of Johannesburgâs busiest highways. At tables scattered across a sprawling floor, teams of artists scrawl designs on sheets of paper. Some hack and shape chunks of recycled plastic, while others frantically paint it in a swirl of colors. Supervising it all is one of South Africaâs most famous football supporters, Alfred Baloyi.  âYou can call me âLux,â he says, extending a calloused, paint-stained hand.  âAll my friends do. Itâs because when I was a child I loved Lux soap. I even did eat some once! Then people started calling me âLux,ââ he adds.       More than 30 years ago, Baloyi invented whatâs now an iconic symbol of South African football â the âmakarapaâ, or âhard hatâ, adorned with all kinds of decorations. The embellishments commonly include images of favorite players, former president Nelson Mandela, current politicians and team flags and colors.  Extravagant decorations For the World Cup â Africaâs first â Baloyi and his employees are making makarapas to suit fans of most of the 32 teams. D. Taylor Alfred Baloyi, wearing a makarapa decorated with the image of South African football legend, Lucas Radebe, inside his factory in Johannesburg Baloyi wears a makarapa on top of which is the carved likeness of former South African football legend Lucas Radebe, wearing his teamâs green and gold and holding two vuvuzela trumpets. Underneath Radebeâs image is a replica of Johannesburgâs Soccer City stadium, where the opening game and World Cup final are to be played. A Zulu warrior, waving South Africa flags, is perched atop another of the hats.   Others bear likenesses of the best international football players, like Argentinaâs Lionel Messi.  Some are geared towards United States supporters, painted in stars and stripes or decorated with a plastic Statue of Liberty, baseball mitt or basketball. Thereâs a design for French supporters, their Les Bleus teamâs cockerel symbol preening on top of a makarapa, and another for British fans, painted with the traditional blood red St. Georgeâs Cross. Baloyi says his creations will retail for the equivalent of about US$ 30 each, and that judging from the orders heâs received so far, the makarapaâs going to make a âhuge impactâ at the football extravaganza.  The story behind the makarapa D. Taylor Baloyi's employees make makarapas out of recycled plastic âThe way I invented the makarapa is almost as weird as I am,â Baloyi says.  In early 1979, he was employed as a municipal worker in South Africaâs capital, Pretoria. The manual labor required a hard hat. Later that year, Baloyi attended a match in Soweto between his favorite team, Kaizer Chiefs, and another leading team, Moroka Swallows. Violence broke out between rival supporters. âWhen I get into the stadium, I saw somebody throwing the bottle, (and it) hit on somebodyâs head. I was scared; I think about my makarapa. Next game, I wear my makarapaâ¦. to protect my head,â Baloyi explains. But, shortly before the match, he decided to paint his hat in orange and black, the colors of Kaizer Chiefs. It was an innovation that âtransformedâ Baloyiâs life, and initially caused an âuproarâ wherever he wore his makarapa across South Africa.  âThe people, they liked it. (They were saying) âHey, give us that makarapa.â Then I started to sell themâ¦. Now, the makarapa is part of South African culture,â Baloyi says, shaking his head as if he still canât believe how protective headgear resulted in a thriving business.  Makarapa frenzy Already, the makarapa is the subject of an international media frenzy. Baloyi says heâs getting so many requests for interviews across the globe thatâs heâs beginning to decline them. D. Taylor Baloyi has made plenty of US supporters coming to South Africa for the world cup. âIf I had to be interviewed so much, I would never get any work done!â he says, raising his voice. But the foreign reporters soon want their own decorated hard hats. âThey have never seen anything like it,â adding, âEveryone must have a makarapa. If you donât have the makarapa, you are not in South Africa; you didnât come to the World Cup!â But he warns visitors, âThere are many Fong Kongs (South African slang for cheap counterfeit products usually made in China) out there. The âBaloyi Makarapaâ is now a registered trademark.â    Making it big Baloyi, just like his invention, has come to epitomize the chaotic, colorful nature of South African football.  âIf I go home (to my village in Limpopo province), they call me âmakarapaâ because they know we wear the makarapa here (in Johannesburg),â he says, beaming with pride.  But itâs also a term of respect for someone from his tiny village whoâs âmade it bigâ in the big city of Johannesburg. âThe makarapa is somebody whoâs got money,â Baloyi explains. D. Taylor Baloyi has made makarapas for fans of most of the 32 World Cup qualifying nations He hopes to partner with a large international company to take his invention global. âI want to go to Europe, and the Far East, and America to teach people there how to make the proper makarapa,â he maintains. âIt is so much fun!â Rejecting the naysayers Focusing his attention on the actual World Cup, Baloyi declares confidently that Bafana Bafana â as the South African football team is known â will do âwellâ at the tournament, even though many pundits have written them off. âEvery country who host (the World Cup), they qualify until the final. We can win that trophy. We can hold that trophy!â he says, raising his arms aloft in premature triumph. While winning the World Cup may be a long shot for South Africa, for Alfred âLuxâ Baloyi, the competition represents another personal victory, as his business expands beyond what he ever imagined.     .