The topic of witch craft and African football is related, interlinked and similar — more like monozygotic newly born twins. Over time, different tales about witchcraft have been heard, scripted and even witnessed prior to, during and after football engagements.
Today, it is more or less a subject worthy to be accorded full syllabus on the agenda of African football. This vice is evidently practiced in secrecy by players, club officials and fans alike across the divide.
Whereas some teams may openly endorse the act by recruiting official ‘team doctors’ (traditional healers), many players have always taken to the vice under the guise of consolidating grip of team positions (slots), improved performance on the field of play, and most importantly to seek favour from coaches and fans.
In Uganda, like several other African countries, witchcraft does exist broadly in society, more so in football circles.
A Uganda Premier League side, BUL F.C based in Jinja town, 60 miles off the capital, Kampala has reportedly sacked three senior players over the witchcraft vice.
The accused players are long time serving skipper and the club’s record goal scorer, Patrick ‘Crespo’ Asiku, vice captain, Herbert Kakande and Asuman Bajampola.
Despite having finished 5th in the 2014/15 season, there has been discontent among the players and officials themselves over unconfirmed witchcraft accusations with blind finger pointing towards one another.
At a recent club meeting held a few days after the 2014/15 season, several club players spoke out their mind – accusing a line of more than 5 players engaged in the act. A highly placed source inside the club revealed the details to Kawowo Sports on Monday.
The names of the three implicated players were almost on every player’s paper sheet that the club chairman had requested each of the players to note down the personalities they thought engaged in witchcraft
The club spokesman, Joseph Mutaka, has categorically come out to acknowledge the meeting was held and the three players’ contracts terminated – though on performance reasons than any other factor.
It is true we had the meeting and 3 players were laid off for under performance reasons and never because of witch craft. In fact, you are giving me news when you talk about witchcraft
Kawowo Sports probed one of the inflicted players, Asiku, who strongly denied the allegations.
How comes, I have been the club’s top scorer for four consecutive seasons and nobody said I am a witch. Those are statements coming up because of malice and envy of my performance. If BUL F.C has decided to pay me back with such a disgrace, nobody is safe at the club. If fact, the club still owes me some money, which I will demand by all means
Efforts to talk to the club chairman, Silver Alias were futile as he could not pick his known phone for a comment.
BUL Football club is not the only Ugandan club to be marred by witchcraft allegations, Lweza F.C fans at one stage in the recently concluded season accused goal keeper, Frank Mulindwa Muwonge, of ‘blindfolding’ the then coach, Villai Bianomugisha.
A section of disgruntled fans would openly hurl insults to the goalkeeper before, during and after each of the club games accusing him of practicing the act.
BUL and Lweza could as well be taken as Uganda’s whistle blowers in reference to exposing witchcraft in football.
Witch Craft Elsewhere in Africa:
- At the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations, the former goalkeeper of Cameroun, Thomas Nkono, was caught burying bones under the turf and spraying a strange elixir, in order to cast a spell on the playing field’ before a crucial semi final match with Zambia. He was arrested and detained by the police.
- In 2012, Ghana’s former Coach, Goran Stevanovic, attributed the country’s failure to win the Cup of Nations to witchcraft accusations among the players. He stressed the need to help change the mentality of the players about using‘black power’ to destroy themselves.
- It is a common vice in Democratic Republic of Congo and many west African nations.
In court terms, it is boldly asserted, everyone is innocent until he has been finally proven guilty to be condemned and sentenced. We are yet to see how the latest accusations pan out.