WORLD CUP 2010 and “JUJU” Men

Photograph courtesy Oliver Becker, Occasione Documentaries. A witch doctor, or juju man, in Tanzania casts magic spells over a soccer ball and a player’s uniform before a game.

We all know that the 2010 World Cup Finals will take place in Africa. Some teams will receive the usual support from coaches, trainers and, in all likelihood, “team advisors” who are actually traditional healers known as juju men.

The juju men won’t be offering tips on game strategy. Their job will be to facilitate a win by discreetly scattering charms on the field, putting hexes on opponents and smearing their teams’ goalposts with magic potions to keep the ball out. Example of how Juju (Khini) works. How did he miss that? Somehow the soccer ball turned into a golf ball? Off balance?

“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don’t like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that” – Bill Shankly, In Sunday Times (UK) Oct. 4 1981.

Sports is full of different rituals or superstitions. But juju isn’t mere superstition or ritual. It’s more than that.

According to Wikipedia, juju (”khini”) is:
… an aura or other magical property, usually having to do with spirits or luck, which is bound to a specific object; it is also a term for the object. Juju also refers to the spirits and ghosts in African lore as a general name. The object that contains the juju, or fetish, can be anything from an elephant’s head to an extinguisher. In general, juju can only be created by a witchdoctor, few exceptions exist. Juju can be summoned by a witchdoctor for several purposes; good juju can cure ailments of mind and body. Any thing from fractured limbs to a headache can be corrected. Bad juju is used to enact revenge, sooth jealousy, and cause misfortune.

Teams have refused to use the entrance to the dressing rooms at soccer venues in fear of juju while other teams have climbed fences instead of the usual gates to the pitch, fearing juju. Other teams have a funny habit of delaying in fielding their 11th player. Do you remember the game between Arsenal and Roma? Arsenal started the second half with only 10 men, with William Gallas and Kolo Toure left in the dressing room as Roma kicked off. “It’s explainable by the fact that Kolo always goes out last. He waited for William but didn’t know William had treatment,” explained Wenger (what an explanation).

Kashimawo Laloko, technical director of the Nigeria Football Association, said in April 2005 that he believes ‘juju’ (witchcraft) can influence a football match, believing it is part of African custom and tradition.

Laloko was sent off before the 2000 African Cup of Nations quarter final against Senegal, punishment for removing what he believed to be a talisman placed near the Senegal goal. Laloko said he had no regrets over his actions, feeling he had no option but to remove an item that could influence the result of a vital game.

The juju experts say that juju doesn’t work if you don’t follow the instructions 100%. If the intructions for the goalkeeper include closing his eyes when the ball is coming then he needs to close his eyes or else?

If all the juju works why hasn’t any African team used that juju to win the World Cup? According to juju Experts, juju doesn’t work after crossing the ocean. This is the first time World Cup Finals will be played in Africa. Time will tell. If an African Team will win the 2010 WC then may be juju really works. Will be dismissed as coincidence?

What if a soccer team doesn’t pay the juju man for services already performed? Doomed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!