MESSIAH: SCOTTLAND NEEDS YOUR TOUCH LORD
Football: Footballers often attribute their success to a wide range of beliefs, with some relying on faith and prayer, believing that divine intervention can guide their performance on the pitch, while others turn to more unconventional means like juju, superstitions, or rituals, highlighting the diverse and sometimes intriguing ways athletes seek to gain a winning edge.
It’s a common sight to see footballers praying before kickoff, at halftime, and even after the final whistle blows, as they seek divine guidance, protection, and blessing in their performances on the pitch.
Coming closer to home, Dynamos FC, is famously known for its pre-match tradition of prayer, where players gather to cover the entire goal area in prayer before kickoff, seeking divine protection and blessing for the game ahead.
Despite their devout prayers, the effectiveness of divine intervention remains uncertain, as Dynamos FC, affectionately known as the Glamour Boys, currently find themselves struggling at the bottom of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League standings this season.
At the ambitious Mabvuku-based side Scotland FC, the club’s mantra “In God We Trust” reflects their unwavering faith in divine guidance as they navigate the challenges of the football pitch, seeking spiritual backing to overcome obstacles and achieve success in the beautiful game.
Yesterday, Scotland FC’s training session was blessed with a special visitor, a spiritual leader who came to offer prayers and spiritual support to the team, further bolstering their faith and resolve as they prepare for upcoming matches.
Minister Michael Mahendere paid Scotland FC a visit ahead of their highly anticipated encounter with FC Platinum, affectionately known as “Madamburo”, to offer spiritual guidance and prayers to the team.
Indeed, Scotland FC’s recent struggles make their need for a messianic intervention seem more pressing than ever, as they struggle to keep pace with league leaders MWOS FC, fellow debutants who are surging ahead with impressive form.
The match versus Ngezi Platinum today comes after a 1 nil loss to Caps United at Rufaro Stadium over the weekend.
Scotland FC’s head coach lamented after the defeat that despite having assembled a star-studded squad, the club is new in the league.
He also added that every team is gunning for them, making their journey a tough one.
“We do not have control over what happened last year, people are supporting every team that we play against. I do not know what happened, we are new to this team,” says Scottland coach Tonderai Ndiraya.
It remains to be seen if divine intervention works when Scotland play Ngezi after Mahendere’s visit.
JUJU, COARSE SALT, URINE USE IN FOOTBALL: IS IT A MYTH OR REALITY?
While others pin their hopes on divine intervention, others believe that a winning formula lies in traditional juju rituals to intimidate opponents and secure victories.
In football, some players believe that coarse salt can ward off juju and bad luck, with some sprinkling it on goalposts and others placing it in their socks for protection.
Despite its widespread use, it remains unknown whether the use of coarse salt to ward off juju and bad luck in football is truly effective or simply a long-standing superstition.
Some visiting teams go as far as avoiding the stadium’s changing rooms, opting to get changed on their team bus instead, due to fears of falling victim to alleged juju charms left behind by the home team.
Black Rhinos FC once famously broke a crate of eggs at the entrance to the pitch at Rufaro Stadium in a bid to ward off juju when they played Motor Action FC.
I recall attending a match between Dynamos and Harare City in 2012, where a boy was sent from the Mbare End Grand Stand to sprinkle urine around Harare City’s goal area in the dying stages of the match, and remarkably, just moments later, Ocean Mushure scored the winning goal, securing a 1-0 victory for Dynamos.
It remains unclear whether the urine sprinkling ritual actually worked or was just a coincidence, but what is certain is that Dynamos fans had been attributing their team’s struggles to score to alleged juju on the goal area before the sudden turn of events.
In football, various superstitions exist, such as the notion that if a certain player scores first, the match will end 1-0, or the alleged ritual where praying players must keep their legs closed, leaving many to wonder if these claims are mere myths or rooted in reality.
SIGNINGS, WHO IS IN, WHO IS OUT
In the high-stakes world of football, teams and players resort to everything from passionate prayers to alleged juju rituals, all in the hopes of gaining a winning edge.
While prayers and rituals may provide a psychological boost, ultimately, assembling a talented and well-balanced squad is crucial for clubs to achieve success on the pitch.
The transfer window for the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League is currently open and will close on July 31, 2025, with clubs actively signing and offloading players to bolster their squads for the season.
Scotland FC, known for their ambitious aspirations, has been one of the busiest clubs in the transfer market, aggressively targeting top talent to bolster their squad for a title push.
Scotland FC has bolstered their midfield with the signing of Namibian international Moses Shidolo, a 27-year-old midfielder who joins the club as a free agent after impressing in the Botswana Premier League with Matebele FC, where he was named the Fans’ Player of the Season, and becomes Scotland’s third major signing this window after Terrence Dzvukamanja and Khuda Muyaba.
Scotland FC has parted ways with struggling former top scorer Lynoth Chikuwa, sending him on loan to Chicken Inn in a bid to reignite his form after a disappointing first half of the season.
Elsewhere, CAPS United have transfer listed four players that includes Cameroonian Joseph Manuel Mbollo, Eric Manokore Wayne Makuva and Rodwell Chinyengetere.
Chinyengetere has since joined Green Fuel until the end of the season with an option for renewal.
Manokore could be moving to cross town rivals Dynamos or will follow Chinyengetere to Green Fuel while Mbollo and Makuva are still to find clubs.
Mbollo lost his place upfront following the arrival of Ishamel Wadi and Chris Mugalu who made an immediate impact with a goal that sunk Scottland at the weekend.
CAPS United also signed Zambian defender Chitoshi Chinga.
Striker Elton Chikona has joined TelOne from struggling Dynamos, reuniting with former DeMbare coach Herbert Maruwa, leaving Dynamos’ coach Saul Chaminuka with limited options upfront, amidst other squad dramas including defender Raymond Uchena’s unexplained absence and left back Nomore Chinyerere’s reported training with Triangle.
Former midfielder Wisdom Mutasa is reported to be on his way back to Dembare, with duo of Veteran Ocean Mushure and Prodigal Son Denver Mukamba reported to be training with the Galmour Boys as well.
CAN HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF?
Andre Villas-Boas was sacked by Chelsea before Roberto Di Matteo took over in 2012.
Villas-Boas was appointed as Chelsea’s manager in June 2011 but was relieved of his duties on March 4, 2012, after a disappointing run of results, with Di Matteo stepping in as caretaker manager until the end of the season.
Chelsea went to win the 2012 UEFA Champions League by defeating Bayern Munich 4-3 in a penalty shootout after the match ended 1-1 after extra time.
Bayern Munich had taken the lead through Thomas Muller’s header in the 83rd minute to give Bayern Munich a 1-0 lead.
In the dying moments, Chelsea equalized through Didier Drogba’s powerful header in the 88th minute, sending the match into extra time.
After extra time ended 1-1, the match went to penalties.
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech made crucial saves, and Drogba scored the winning penalty, securing Chelsea’s first Champions League title.
The victory marked a historic moment for Chelsea, becoming the first London club to win the prestigious tournament.
Under the management of Roberto Di Matteo, Chelsea’s campaign was marked by dramatic comebacks and disciplined performances, ultimately leading to their triumph.
Fast forward to 2025, Chelsea are set to face the mighty Paris St Germain as underdogs in the FIFA Club World Cup Final on Sunday, July 13, in America.
PSG thrashed Atlético Madrid 4-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup, while they also defeated Real Madrid 4-0 in the Semi Final.
The odds are against the Enzo Maresca’s coached side and everyone is tipping PSG to win.
It remains to be seen on Sunday if history can repeat itself and Chelsea claim victory like they did in Munich back in 2012.
“The biggest achievement of this season is that exactly one year ago, no one was talking about Chelsea, about football. Everyone was talking about Chelsea, about big squad, big money, these kind of things.
“Now no one is talking about this. Now everyone is talking about Chelsea, the way we play, the way we win games. And this is personally the biggest achievement of this season,” said Enzo Maresca, Chelsea Coach.
Story by Jeremiah Gora
