The Star FRIDAY OCTOBER 30 2015 SOCCER 29 rout Australia WHERE HAS THE MUTI GONE? to reach quarter-finals FORMER champions , Mexico and Nigeria rolled back the years by emerging victorious in their respective Fifa Under-17 World Cup Round of 16 Ahead of tomorrow’s derby, Nick Kariuki talks to former players and coaches about the use of muti in games matches. Nigeria saw off Australia in a dominant perform- URING every World Cup even a bathroom stall. ance, with Victor Osimhen scoring the first hat-trick western media has a pre- Today, muti is not a direct of Chile 2015 to see him stand alone as the outright D dictable habit of search- part of the sport’s culture, it is top goalscorer in the competition with seven goals. ing for the juju man or witch doc- more a reflection of the indige- They were joined by Belgium, who won in their tor amongst the fans during nous heritage that the teams that first knockout game at this level, in completing the games featuring African sides. practice it represent. As such, first half of Chile 2015’s quarter-final line-up on a The ornately decorated, mys- many of today’s coaches have day of penalty drama, birthday celebrations and terious and larger-than-life man chosen to respectfully turn a emotional farewells for the hosts. Mexico came that they envision harkens back blind eye to individuals who use from behind to dump Chile out of the competition, to the politically-incorrect stereo- it. cantering to a 4-1 victory courtesy of goals from type that is better left in the pile “I’m just trying to get my team Claudio Zamudio, Pablo Lopez, Eduardo Aguirre of lazy misconceptions. to play and win games and those and Diego Cortes after Brian Leiva had put La What many Africans are things I don’t get involved in,” Roja ahead. loathe to admit to the western said Igesund. James McGarry had an afternoon to forget for world though is that he may actu- “I don’t tell a player ‘don’t do New Zealand, first blasting a penalty over the bar ally be at the match. this or don’t do that’. If he wants before fouling Luis Henrique to concede a late spot The prevalence of muti in top- to do a certain thing he does it on kick – converted by the Brazilian No9 to send A level professional South African his own or wherever he does it. I Seleção into the quarter-finals. football has decreased over the respect that and let him get on Korea Republic wonderkid Lee Seungwoo missed generations. with it.” a penalty after birthday boy Jorn Vancamp had What was once a very com- A Christian, Igesund offers become the first player to breach the Asian side’s mon practice with deep rever- team prayers in his changing defence in Chile, with Matthias Verreth’s late stun- ence and peer pressure to partic- room before games, which play- ner rubberstamping the 10-men of Les Diables ipate, has now become another ers can chose to participate in or Rouges’ progress. cultural method that players or not. He said that muti, or any Nigeria’s 6-0 victory over Australia is the joint- teams may privately use to build other pre-match practices or rit- biggest win in the history of the U17 World Cup confidence and which is uals have never really disrupted knockout stages, level with Japan’s 6-0 win against respected as a personal belief. his maintaining a controlled New Zealand in 2011, also in the Round of 16. – ANA “Working in the years gone by environment. it was very prevalent in our foot- “I must say it’s never really ball society,” said George “Best” been a big issue with me with More, who began his playing any of the teams, I think we’ve career in the 1960s and played for man-managed it and we don’t both Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs victimise anybody who wants to and Orlando Pirates. “Most of do a certain thing or whatever the teams used muti and it was a the case may be is,” he said. precondition after all; if you’re Of the 32 PSL and NFD sides playing in a team you must know currently playing asked for infor- that there is muti and you’re mation about their muti men, going to be a part of it and use past or present, none responded muti also.” by the time of publishing. On a team level, the rituals A Sangoma named S’Bonelo and practices took many shapes Madelo took credit for Bafana and forms and varied from team Bafana’s 2-1 victory over France to team. A specially prepared, in the 2010 World Cup after the watery mix was sprinkled on Safa paid him R10 000 of his players’ kits before going out to R100 000 fee. Madelo then threat- warm up and play. In the chang- ened to use his powers to make ing rooms players would have a lose until Safa paid tub or bucket to wash themselves him what he was owed. with the same mystery liquid. Rituals similar to muti are not The bathing ritual may have exclusive to South African soccer, also been performed in a nearby or Africa for that matter. In river. Moloi’s playing career abroad he Sometimes the muti was a liq- OPENING A CHANNEL: Traditional healers prepare to burn the herb impepho, which helps them to communicate with their ancestors. encountered pre-game rituals uid or a substance you would that he found had very similar ingest: “At times we had to drink Church.” pate in muti was often so strong point Hodgkin stood up and After the team won 2-1, Da spiritual connotations to muti. In a lot of water in order to vomit When Pubs folded, there was a that even players who didn’t walked over to the Bush Bucks’ Silva attributed the victory to the his time at Turkish side back out the old water,” More popular belief that their lack of believe in the spiritual power of bench. Then, in front of the fans, detour. Gaziantepspor, a goat was often said. muti practice contributed to the it found it easier to participate he poured the water from his bot- Moloi said that the prevalence slaughtered before a match and Razors were used to cut parts club’s downfall. A team’s muti than not. That’s not to say that a tle on to and around the bench. of muti was rife when his father, players would dip there finger in of the body and the blood would was as closely protected as its tac- player couldn’t back out. “The crowd went crazy, they Percy “Chippa Chippa” Moloi, the blood and dab it on their fore- be used as an ingredient for fur- tics, and any attempts to damage “If I wanted to be involved I wanted to half-murder him,” was playing. During his time as a heads prior to walking out of the ther rituals. or take a player or team’s muti would be involved. If I didn’t Fredericks said with a laugh. player the practice was still tunnel. The changing room was filled was met with anger and threats want to be involved I would “Later on we beat them 1-0 and common and accepted as part of “You’ll find in Colombia, they with smoke or scents, sometimes of violence. Swapping shirts or refuse,” said Igesund, “I would Ryan comes and says ‘I told you the culture of teams in the take a washing dish, just a small rendering it unusable, spiritu- even engaging the opposition be- say: ‘No, I don’t be want to be in- that would work!’ ” league. washing dish, pour a lot of water ally or practically, for visiting fore kick off was met with anger volved in this because I believe in Some coaches who were from “That is how we lived. It was- the night before and they put teams. by the inyanga. x-y-z’. Everybody had where they backgrounds that did not involve n’t something that we were some shrubs or herbs in there,” “The captain used to go the “At that time the perimeters stood so it was not a matter of muti, like former Bafana Bafana ashamed or shy of. It was some- Moloi said. the opposition change room to were not as guarded as they are forcing something down some- coach and Peruvian Augusto thing that we found happening in “Then before you walk out for check the cards and the player now,” said former Orlando body or saying that’s right or Palacios, would not allow the the game and we just followed,” warm up, you just sprinkle it on would come back and say: ‘Hey, I Pirates player Teboho Moloi, now what’s wrong.” team to stage muti ceremonies. Moloi said. your feet or wherever.” couldn’t even see the cards there an assistant coach with the Sea However, opting out of the rit- Others, like Brazilian Walter da Moloi describes the levels that “I was actually surprised to was so much smoke in the Robbers. uals made you an easy scapegoat Silva, embraced it. he sees today as a coach as sim- see that even overseas there are change room’ and everybody “You’d see a supporter jump when your performance, or the “You know, psychologically, he mering compared to his time as a some players who do that,” he would have a laugh,” Gordon Ige- over and run into the goal and team’s result weren’t going well. had been in the country for a player. added. sund, head coach of SuperSport scratch that thing and then the Historically, white teams such as very long time and he understood “During my father’s time, Fredericks said that during United said about his days as a opponent supporters chasing Durban City, Hellenic, Cape about these things.” Moloi said of maybe it was worse. During my his time playing in Russia and player. him and wanting to kill him Town City and Highlands Park, his time as a Pirates player under time it toned down. Now it is the Greece, for FC Moscow and Players had incanted items because he took their muti away.” did not practice muti on a team Da Silva. “He also started to time of Oupa Manyisa and them, Pierikos, respectively, he also that on them or near them while Muti was as much about level. Even though it was not a believe that the muti-man plays there’s nothing like that,” he noticed several superstitions they played, for example goal- psyching out an opponent as it part of their culture, teams an important role and, when he said. “As the generations went by, amongst the teams, like never keepers could have a bottle, towel was building the confidence of where muti was not practiced didn’t win he had to greet the the more it died or it fazed out of changing seats on a win streak. or bag that they would hang on the player using it. For Moloi, would sometimes try to use the muti-man in the morning.” the league.” A large factor for Today, the old practices of the goal to try and ward off goals. this was also an opportunity to beliefs surrounding muti to their Da Silva’s superstitions went this are the influences of western before have turned into current Now retired, the only team get into an opponents head: advantage. as far as to make the team late for football. superstitions for Moloi. that More played for that didn’t “Brian Baloyi (former Kaizer When Stanton Fredericks, the first ever Bob Save Super In More’s time, only the best Before a game now he doesn’t practice muti was Pimville Chiefs ‘keeper) used to hang a who played for Chiefs, Pirates, Bowl final in 1988, after a black players had the luxury of their prepare until the hour before the United Brothes. towel (in the goal),” he said. “Me and now is a scout at Bidvest cat ran across the road in front of own personal muti-man. As the team has to leave the hotel. “That was just the belief in being naughty as I am, I would Wits, was playing for Wits Uni- the team bus. generation passed that became Stretching muscles, putting on the team because it was more of sometimes take that towel from versity and the team was up The coach forced the driver to the norm for players who still socks and boots has to be done a Christian team,” More said Brian, or from William Shongwe, against Umtata Bush Bucks, his take an alternate route to avoid wished to gain an edge that way. left first, never right. “Because their football kit and and psychologically it would teammate, goalkeeper Ryan the misfortune that the cat, sent The rituals have moved from the Should he deviate from this everything used to stay at the affect him.” Hodgkin was on the substitute’s by Kaizer Chiefs, would have locker rooms to the private set- practice and the team loses, he mission house of the Catholic The peer pressure to partici- bench during the game. At one wrought. tings of homes, hotel rooms, or knows where the blame lies. Mourinho set for the chop Nonyane to shake Bafana up MATSHELANE MAMABOLO the only solid one is Thabo Mat- if Chelsea lose to Liverpool SQUAD laba,” the coach said. MUHSIN ERTUGRAL has Mashaba has also recalled stiker LONDON: It would have been Chelsea’s cause will not be expressed delight at having one of Goalkeepers: , Dino Ndlovu who is having a good crazy to doubt José helped if striker Diego Costa his players called up to the Bafana Jackson Mabokgaane, Ronwen run in the Cyprus League where he Mourinho’s, pictured, job fails to recover from the rib Bafana squad to face Angola in Williams has scored seven goals in eight security when the Premier injury that forced him off at next month’s World Cup Defenders: Bafana Nhlapo, Leho- matches for Anorthosis Famagusta. League kicked off in August Stoke but Liverpool are also qualifiying ties. honolo Nonyane, Anele Ngconga, The former Supersport United but, with 10 games gone, his suffering their own injury Shakes Mashaba yesterday Thabo Matlaba, Clayton Daniels, striker last played for Bafana back position at Chelsea is under problems. Christian Benteke included Mpumalanga Black Aces Erick Mathoho, Rivaldo Coetzee, in 2014 against Brazil. intense scrutiny ahead of to- missed Wednesday’s 1-0 League leftback Lehlohonolo Nonyane in With the two countries having morrow’s match with Liver- Cup win over Bournemouth, his 25-man squad for the matches Midfielders: , Kamohole played each other on numerous pool. leaving Liverpool with Belgian against the Palancas Negras in Mokotjo, Phumlani Ntshangase, occasions, Mashaba believes it will Just five months after they Divock Origi as their only fit Benguela on November 13th and on , George Lebese, be the team that comes up with a romped to the title, Chelsea first-team forward. Durban four days later. , Mpho Makola, new plan that will do well. and their talent-packed squad with the authorities have New German coach Juergen Said Ertugral upon hearing the , “We know each other well and are hovering above the relega- rarely, if ever, been accompa- Klopp is also on the lookout for news: “I’m very proud of him. He’s Forwards: Thamsanqa Gabuza, (to win) that’s going to take an ele- tion zone, having already lost nied by such consistently poor his first league win since join- a fantastic boy and this will only , , ment of surprise from either side. five times. The spotlight is now results on the pitch. ing the club three weeks ago. help him in his game. , Dino Ndlovu But if they had scouts when we firmly fixed on Mourinho Chelsea’s midweek League leaders “He is one of the best left wing- played them (recently in the whose erratic behaviour has Cup defeat at Stoke City on Manchester City will expect to backs in the country. What I like CHAN), then they’ll be making a gone hand-in-hand with his penalties means they go into claim all three points when most about him is that he plays to the troublesome leftback position mistake because this is a com- team’s spiralling fortunes. tomorrow’s home game on the they host Norwich City, also instructions. When I joined he was that Mashaba is struggling to get pletely different team.” Sent to the stands in last back of two consecutive de- tomorrow, while Arsenal, who only just a defender but he has now right. Thabo Matlaba is the main The opposite, Mashaba says, weekend’s 2-1 defeat at West feats. trail Manuel Pellegrini’s side become very good going forward. man for the position and will be rings true although Angola are not Ham United, the Portuguese Bookmakers now make on goal difference, face a All he needs to improve on is his first choice against Angola. likely to be too different a side from has spent much of the early Mourinho an even-money tougher task when they visit aerial abilities and he’ll be in the Since taking over, Mashaba has the one that knocked Bafana out of campaign picking fights. favourite to be the next Pre- Swansea City. Wenger also has class of many European players.” tried numerous players as back-up the championship for players based The club’s former doctor, mier League supremo to get to contend with a mounting Nonyane has had a particularly for the Orlando Pirates defender, at home. referees, the Football Associa- the sack. Fans are openly spec- injury list after Theo Walcott good start to the season and was in all of Sibusisu Khumalo, Siyabonga “From Chan we saw what was tion, Arsenal manager Arsene ulating that owner Roman and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain good nick in the recent back-to- Zulu, Mzikayise Mashaba, Luvul- happening (how Angola play). But Wenger and even some of his Abramovich, a man who places were early casualties in Tues- back matches against Kaizer wethu Mpeta, Patrick Phungwayo we cannot use that as a yardstick of own players have been caught notoriously high demands on day’s embarrassing 3-0 League Chiefs despite Aces losing both. and Musa Lebusa having got a what is to come because maybe two in the crossfire of Mourinho’s his managers, could call time Cup defeat at second-tier His return to the national team – run without really staking a or three players won’t be in that angry outbursts. on Mourinho’s second spell at Sheffield Wednesday. Fourth- he was in the 2013 Cosfaa Cup squad serious claim. team. So we’re going to go there and The Chelsea boss is, of Stamford Bridge if Liverpool placed Manchester United, two and also played against Mauritius “We don’t have really solid left- play hard and do our best to get a course, no stranger to contro- can inflict another defeat on points off the top, visit Crystal in the CHAN qualifier earlier this backs and we are trying to groom good result and make things a bit versy but his frequent run-ins the champions. Palace tomorrow. – Reuters. year – comes about largely due to the rest of the other players because easier for us in the return leg.”