Vipers SC could be caught up in a witchcraft storm in Zambia later this week, but here’s what happened back in 1993 when SC Villa was caught up, left, right & center in a witchcraft or ‘Juju’ storm in an Africa Cup of Champion Clubs tie against Vital’O of Burundi in Bujumbura ‘Juju’ completely too over this African Club Cup tie.
It’s no secret that witchcraft is a part and parcel of African Football. But the scenes surrounding the 1993 First Round, Africa Cup of Champion Clubs (now CAF Champions League) return leg tie between Vital’O and SC Villa at Prince Louis Rwagasore stadium in Bujumbura were crazy.
One had to be present to know and appreciate what I will attempt to recount. After defeating a tough Vital’O side 1-0 in Kampala courtesy of a Sula Kato stunning goal, SC Villa decided to travel for the return leg game on the very day of the match, by a chartered flight heading straight to the stadium from Bujumbura airport.
All was smooth until when we landed at Bujumbura airport. That’s when chaos and explosive scenes took over. We’re in the arrival lounge, when thousands of SC Villa fans who had travelled by road, days ahead of the team, literally took over the airport, invading the arrival hall and were adamant that we (the team) will not use the official exit area, or use the official transport arranged for us by the Burundi Football Federation and Vital’O club Management.
Reason; The Vital’O people had hired the services of witch doctors to infect the arrival hall exit and the bus to transport us from the airport to the stadium with charms meant to weaken us, the players.
Bitter and violent scenes ensued at the airport for over 45 mins as neither side was willing to cede their positions. Our fans would not budge on their stance, and the Vital’O side likewise.
Meanwhile, time for kickoff of the match was fast approaching. Eventually we did move to the stadium, but in transport provided by our fans, who escorted us and guarded us all the way to the stadium amid wild singing and jubilations.
We get to the stadium, and it was more chaos. Standing at the entrance to our ‘Away’ dressing room, was this half naked Burundi witch doctor, wearing a ‘necklace’ of chicken heads dripping with blood.
He was making all sorts of gestures to us, indicating that we were ‘finished’.
And a peep into our dressing room revealed blood sprinkled all over the floor and walls of the place. None of us the players would dare step into the place to dress up and be inspected for the match to kickoff.
Only goalkeeper, Mike Mukasa, a ‘Born Again’ Christian, was unmoved and willing to go inside. He was urging the rest of us as in, “namwe tuyingire twambale. Ebyo bano (Vital’O) bye balikko, temuli.” Loosely translated as ‘let us get inside and dress up, what their (Vital’ O’) intentions are is nothing.’
Our fans had meanwhile managed to break through security and had invaded the dressing room area. They would not allow any player to dare step into that dressing room, and they angrily rebuked Mike Mukasa.
As all this drama, chaos and delays were happening, our opponents, the Vital O players were already on the pitch ready for kickoff. With our team refusing to dress up or enter the dressing room, the match referee gave up, walked to the pitch and blew the whistle indicating the match is awarded as a walk over to the hosts, and SC Villa eliminated.
Chaos and more chaos ensued after that as our officials and fans protested this decision by the referee. A decision was made to immediately appeal to CAF, as we flew back to Entebbe. CAF did order for a re-staging of this game in Bujumbura, 6 days later, with a stern warning to both sides not to repeat the ‘stupidity’ that had marred this tie earlier.
With money exhausted, we travelled back to Bujumbura, by road via Tanzania. Played & lost 2-1, but progressed on the away goals rule. With goalkeeper Mike Mukasa making a crucial penalty save late in the match, which had it (penalty) been scored would’ve meant a 3-1 lead for Vital’O & elimination for the Jogoos.
