The believe in voodoo (juju) as its known in this side of the world in Football is nothing but a hoas.
This is the assertion of the Former NFF Technical Director and Assistant Coach to the Super Eagles team to the USA 94 mundial, Coach Bitrus Bewarang,MON, while speaking to ssimedia247.com.ng after the game in jos.
Coach Bewarang was reacting to the cry of Coach Eric Chelle after Nigeria was denied the ticket to the 2026 World Cup Intercontinental playoffs by DR Congo on Sunday night in Morocco.
Coach Chelle who believed that the DR Congo team used voodoo especially during the penalty shoot out that almost led to altercation with some technical staff of DR Congo.
In his words,Coach Bewarang said ‘when I used to Coach my teams, I will always have it at the back of my mind that anyone who believes in juju can’t win me, I believe in God and don’t practise any form of ritual,so anyone who does that can’t surpass me’.
The former Plateau Utd Chief Coach regretted the level which our football growth has slided to ‘the believe in voodoo shows how stunted our football growth is now,an indication that if we don’t take the necessary steps,it will continue to slide downward. This is another opportunity to feature in the mundial gone and another generation of football stars wasted’.
The one-time Technical Director of the NFF however, cautioned the football authorities to always get a Coach as early as possible when the need arises and should shun the habit of interference in team selection, make sure the players welfare are given utmost attention to avoid the kind of situation of boycott before the match against Gabon which the Eagles eventually won 4-1.
‘I believe with the right structures in place like the quick appointment of coaches for all National teams, good welfare packages and invitation of the right players to the National team without bias will take our football to the highest level it belongs not believing in voodoo. I remember my team mate and good friend,Late Best Ogedengbe used to say ‘juju no dey work for football because he no get stamina’, so good preparations and hardwork always win you games’.
Credit: Nathaniel Mobolade,SSIMEDIA.
