<p><br /> South Africa's makarapa helmet king has moved from his township workshop to a factory to meet World Cup demand and expects the elaborate headgear to become a global craze after the tournament.<br /> </p><p><br /> Dancing fans wearing the brightly painted hats made from converted plastic construction helmets, often paired with giant mock glasses, are a trademark of the South African game.<br /> </p><p><br /> Former cleaner Alfred Baloyi, 52, invented the decorated helmets in 1979. A friend gave him a construction helmet for protection when watching his beloved Kaizer Chiefs soccer team, after a fellow fan was hit by a bottle.<br /> </p><p><br /> Baloyi first starting painting the helmets, then he began adding horns and finally he started using a box knife to cut out elaborate stand-up designs. Baloyi, originally from northern Limpopo province, started selling a few at a time beside the road but his son and manager, Lovemore, 29, says they have since sold many thousands.<br /> </p><p><br /> With demand booming for the humble invention ahead of the World Cup, they have opened a factory in the Wynberg area of Johannesburg where Lovemore says they are producing up to 80 makarapas a day.<br /> </p><p><br /> The Baloyis hope the exposure of makarapas during the world's most watched sporting event will turn the helmets into a global craze for international football fans. Baloyi's success has enabled him to send his daughter Calphina, 21, to art school and buy a better house for his family in Limpopo province.<br /> </p>
