South African club suspends player over Juju
A South African football club has suspended a Zimbabwean football player for reportedly practicing witchcraft.
The alleged victim, Carlington Nyadombo,who hails from Makoni District, has also been barred from accessing the club premises while he serves his suspension, according to South African online portal Sports web.
The move is to reportedly save him from the “wrath of his team’s supporters.”
The 29-year-old is at the centre of a storm, with certain club supporters accusing him of using withcraft otherwise known as “muti” to ensure the team loses.
Incidentally, his employer Amazulu FC is staring at relegation in the face, having posted below par results in the country’s top flight league.
The club – which is home to Kenya international Paul Were – is placed bottom of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) standings having won only one of their 19 league assignments this season.
The has only garnered 9 points all this while, a similar tally below 15th placed Platinum Stars.
Nyadombo’s suspension was confirmed by club coach Steve Barker, but the reasons for his ouster were unsurprisingly rubbished by the player’s agent Mike Mabaab.
“The decision that has been taken by the club is that we have suspended Carlington Nyadombo indefinitely. That’s all I can at this stage.” Barker said.
But Mabaab responded: “I’m saddened by how the media has taken it and made it like this boy is doing things against the club, which is absolutely nonsense.
“We are talking about somebody who’s got integrity and someone who has captained Zimbabwe and has been at AmaZulu for so many years.
“Unless someone can come to the fore and give proof of what has been said than I must wonder where this come from.”
Reports of withcraft are rife in football and especially in Africa. In Kenya, supporters affiliated to AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia have oftenly accused each other of using withcraft to ensure their respective teams are successful.