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| Tanzania : Witchcraft controversy in football. |
Last 20 November the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) imposed a fine of US$ 500 on the two main football clubs in the country, Yanga and Simba, after coming to the conclusion that both clubs had performed various witchcraft rituals before their derby on 29 October. As a matter of fact a national newspaper published some compromising pictures showing fans of each team burying unknown substances in the pitch on the eve of the match. Many other rituals have been reported. The crucial importance of that derby of 29 October for both teams was probably the reason why they indulged in witchcraft, since Simba needed to win the game to keep alive their hopes to win the championship, while a victory for Yanga would have secured them the title of champion. But the match ended in a 0-0 draw.
It’s not the first time that these two clubs are punished for the same reasons. They received fines in 2003 after performing various rituals on pitches. In 2004 Simba players were found casting strange powder and breaking eggs on the pitch before a game, which two Yanga opponents attempted to neutralize by urinating on the field. Yanga captain Paul John MASANJA refused to shake hands with his counterpart of Simba Seleman MATOLA. That match ended in a 2-2 draw and both teams were fined by the then provisional Committee of the Football Association of Tanzania (FAT).
Tanzania football authorities have been trying to clamp down on the use of witchcraft, but it is not an easy job, since this practice is widespread in Tnazanian football; witchdoctors receive sizeable payments for their services. So the question is: Why do club rulers indulge in witchcraft? Many of them claim that they are permanently under pressure from influential fans to accept the services of witchdoctors, and those who try to make a bid to go out of it risk losing their jobs. One of them, Kassim DEWJI, Simba’s secretary general until june 2004 had to resign, notwithstanding the fact that he won eight trophies with his club, “because I believed in coaches, said he. I used to spend a lot of money to buy good players for the team, that’s why the team did well. But thre was a clique of people who opposed me all the way because I didn’t believe in that witchcraft of theirs.” According to Mr DEWJI club leaders use witchcraft to make money, since they encourage the views that match victories are a result of witchcraft services.”
In September 2004 former TFF’s secretary general Mwina KADUGUDA revealed that the federation invited a witchdoctor to Nairobi to help the Taifa Stars, the national team, win a 2006 World Cup preliminary qualifying match vs the Harambee Stars of Kenya, but it was of no avail since the Taifa Stars lost 3-0. Mr KADUGUDA is convinced that this dismal performance was the result of disgruntled players who had not received their pay, their match allowances having been used to pays the witchdoctor. The assistant secretary general of the TFF Charles MASANJA says that from now on the policy will be to accept the service of volunteer witchdoctors only.
(Source: BBC Sports)
27/11/2006 |
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