The rituals Kotoko and Hearts performed before the game on Sunday – Hearts poured Foda water on the ground, Kotoko released three white doves

One topic that divides football fans in Ghana most of the time is whether black magic works in football or not.

While some people believe that black magic plays an important role in the game of football especially in Africa, others believe it only put fear in people because training and the tactics of the coach are what determines the strength of a team or whether a team will win a match or not.

“If black magic works in football, then why do players go to training,” is a question those who do not believe in it ask always.

In Ghana football, proponents of those who believe in black magic in football point their fingers at matches involving Kotoko and Hearts of Oak.

There have been times when players have entered the pitch with their back or doing something which people believe they have been directed to do in other to help them avoid defeat.

When Hearts hosted their arch-rivals on Sunday, some fans were on the lookout for incidents that would show such directions and indeed they may have seen something.

Last Sunday, when Kotoko’s bus entered the Accra Sports Stadium, a blue salon car leading the bus released three white doves from the passenger seat beside the driver.

The question everyone is asking is, did it affect the game? What did the doves represent?

Strangely, three goals were scored in the game as Kotoko beat Hearts 2-1 and some people believe that the doves represented the goals that were scored in the game.

While Kotoko released three white doves, Hearts of Oak also did their own thing.

The Post understands when Hearts got to the stadium, they poured Florida water (commonly called Foda Water in Ghana) on the ground. If you have no idea what Foda Water is, well known for its refreshing citrus smell as well as its spiritual uses.

Some of the spiritual uses of the water include seeking guidance from your ancestors, attracting love, ritual offerings and purifications, writing spells, etc.

Now back to the Hearts versus Kotoko game, Hearts after pouring the water on the ground moved to the next ritual. They put parts of a palm tree in a pan and set it on fire and made sure the smoke gets into the bus. The players stayed in the bus for about twenty minutes before getting down. When it was time to get down, the players got down in a group of three just like Kotoko.

by: Nana Asabere