I don’t believe in juju - Kotoko’s Kwame Kyei

The Executive Chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Kwame Kyei has debunked the belief that ‘juju’ plays a role in football, citing that it’s pointless for a team to dabble in such dark acts all in an effort to win football matches.

Kwame Kyei’s comments come in the wake of an embarrassing scenario at the Dormaa Park during a Ghana premier league match on Wednesday.

Prior to the game commencing, Aduana Stars and Asante Kotoko presented a team start list of 11 players but entered the pitch with 10 players each.

The act, many believe was triggered by superstitious beliefs as neither team wanted to be on the losing side.

This was after Asante Kotoko, the visiting team had taken a much longer route to Dormaa than the usual route which is shorter all because of superstition.

Many have castigated the Kotoko leadership for engaging in such primitive acts and reacting to the situation, Kotoko’s Kwame Kyei has denied playing a part in it.

He told Accra based Asempa FM, that he did not travel with the team and played no part in the match arrangements.

“I am here at Adako Jachie working on a makeshift home venue for the club, if they go (to Dormaa) to do their thing, I have no part to play in it and its unfair to involve me in such matters”.

Kwame Kyei went further to express his belief that ‘Juju’ plays no part in deciding football matches.

“Juju does not play football, I feel if you pray, whatever is left is up to you (team/players) to deliver”.

“If you don’t work hard, nothing will come to fruition. So let’s rid the game of juju matters so our football can improve”.

“You won’t see things like these in Europe, it’s only here in Africa, I disagree juju plays football”.

“If juju plays football, then India would have won the World cup” he wittingly remarked.

Kotoko eventually lost the game 1-0 after Samuel Bioh scored a last gasp winner for Aduana Stars.

This is not the first time, Kotoko have been embroiled in issues relating to superstition or what is mostly referred to as juju on this side of the continent.

In the 1997-98 premier league season, both Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak started a premier league match with 10 players each.