TAKUDZWA HILLARY CHIWANZA
HARARE – Accusations of superstitious beliefs being used to influence the outcome of matches in Zimbabwean local football continue to take centre stage; a phenomenon that always threatens to cast doubts on the integrity of domestic football. These are not new; every season is almost guaranteed its fair share of these controversies.
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| Sakupwanya (top right) in attendance during the hotly-contested match between Scottland FC and MWOS FC [Image: Libertino] |
Such controversies have again come to the fore, this time in the ZIFA Northern Region Division One League; pitting title contenders Scottland FC and MWOS FC. So fierce is the title race that the match between these clubs on the weekend—a match that was attended by over 5,000 fans (great figures for Zimbabwean football!)—has descended into visceral accusations of dark magic being used to influence results.
Pedzai 'Scott' Sakupwanya has threatened to withdraw his club Scottland FC from the league over what he termed "dark arts" allegedly practised by MWOS FC during the match. The match between the two clubs—which was attended by prominent figures including former ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa and former Premier Soccer League chairman Twine Phiri—ended in a 1-1 draw, much to the frustration of Sakupwanya.
Scottland had seemed to be on course for a victory after a Denver Mukamba goal put the club in front for the better part of the game. However, a late equaliser from MWOS crushed Scotland's hopes for a victory, making Sakupwanya livid. He stormed to the pitch immediately after the final whistle; creating scenes of chaos.
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| Sakupwanya flaunting his "wealth". [Image: Online sources] |
Sakupwanya, who is also a ZANU PF lawmaker for Mabvuku-Tafara Constituency, launched a missile of accusations towards MWOS FC coach Lloyd Mutasa, saying that he had employed "dark arts" that distracted Scottland's goalkeeper, leading to the equalising goal.
"Our goalkeeper was distracted by the deliberate actions of the MWOS coach and we are surprised that in football we still allow outside interference to play a role in the outcome of matches," an angry Sakupwanya said, as quoted by The Herald.
"This was a big game and every effort should have been made to ensure that the outcome would be determined by the action on the pitch.
"We have got worse results than this one this season when we lost some games, but we accepted the result and didn’t complain at all."
Sakupwanya justified his words by saying that it is wrong for a player to be distracted by what he called "outside forces".
"The MWOS coach sent the ball boy to distract our goalkeeper by pouring whatever liquid they poured at our goal and all the other stuff they splashed there," Scott alleged.
"This was a crucial stage of the game and we are unhappy that there was no protection against our keeper and this was a deliberate act by the coach of our opponents."
The result is very much unfavourable for the Mabvuku side, which was formed this year—it has picked eight out of a possible 12 points against their main rivals, MWOS and Black Rhinos, in their recent encounters.
This is the second time this season that allegations of superstitious powers reigning supreme in local football have made the headlines.
Last month, reports surfaced that Dynamos FC splurged a thousand dollars to a traditional healer or sangoma ahead of their Zimbabwe Castle Lager PSL clash against Highlanders FC. This was at a time when the Dembare camp was plagued by a rebellion from players, whose grievance was that the club was not paying them their due monies. Dynamos lost the match 2-0 at home.
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