Former AFC Leopards striker opens up on encounter with witchcraft in football

Former Harambee Stars and AFC Leopards striker Kepha Aswani has opened up about his past belief in witchcraft in football, revealing that he once suspected he had been bewitched after repeatedly missing scoring opportunities that even he struggled to explain.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsAswani, who has since retired from professional football and ventured into coaching, says the belief took hold during his time at Bandari FC in Mombasa, where stories about witchcraft and its prevalence in certain areas began to influence his thinking.“I used to believe there was witchcraft in football because the chances I missed during matches were so shocking that even I could not understand how I failed to convert them,” he said in an interview with The Exit Show.##NAJAVA_MECA_10087380##“My mother is a prayerful person, and I am also prayerful. However, when I moved to Mombasa after joining Bandari, people would tell me about places where witchcraft was prevalent. They would describe places where someone could leave their door open day and night, and nothing would be stolen. Hearing such stories got into my head, and I started thinking that someone had put a spell on me,” he added.I eventually had to approach coach Twahir Muhiddin and tell him that I believed I had been bewitched. He then took me somewhere where prayers were conducted for me.”Akhulia compares coaching pressure at Police FC and Bidco UnitedAswani's revelations bring renewed attention to a subject that has hovered around the continent for years but is rarely discussed openly. While stories and suspicions have often circulated behind the scenes, a few incidents have brought the subject into the public domain, involving players, coaches and club officials.One such account came from former Kenya Police FC chairman and current APS Bomet chairman of trustees, Dr Bishop Fred Akama, who claimed that security personnel at Police Sacco Stadium intercepted members of an opposing team attempting to smuggle in a coffin in the middle of the night ahead of a match between the two sides the following day.How Nairobi United beat Kenya Police to secure Bajaber's signatureAccording to Akama, the group intended to perform witchcraft rituals at the stadium before the encounter.Another high-profile incident involved veteran Kenyan coach Robert Matano, then in charge of Tusker FC, and Patrick Aussems, who was coaching AFC Leopards at the time. The two coaches were involved in a public spat after Aussems accused Matano of using juju following a late defeat to the experienced Kenyan tactician. The matter found its way into the corridors of justice, but it has since been resolved after the two parties decided to bury the hatchet.FKF President targets 2031 Women's World Cup qualification with new Harambee Starlets strategyBeyond these publicised incidents, there have been numerous accounts of suspected witchcraft in local football. These include claims of eggs bearing the names of opposing players being discovered at stadiums, teams expressing reluctance to use certain changing rooms or designated entrances, and unidentified substances being poured onto pitches before or during matches.Despite the stories and speculations that have circulated over the years, witchcraft remains a subject largely discussed in hushed tones within Kenyan football, with few prominent figures willing to speak publicly about their personal experiences.Aswani enjoyed a lengthy career in Kenyan football, representing several established clubs in the Kenyan Premier League. He began his top-flight journey with Mathare United in 2008 before earning recognition during a successful spell at Thika United.##NAJAVA_MECA_10087396##In 2013, he ventured abroad to join Oman's Al-Nasr before returning to Kenya to sign for Bandari, where his experiences with stories of witchcraft began to shape his thinking about the subject.He subsequently had another brief spell at Thika United before joining AFC Leopards in 2016. He later turned out for Nakumatt, which subsequently became Mount Kenya United, before embarking on a multi-year stint with Sofapaka.Equity FC was his final club before he quietly brought his professional playing career to an end and transitioned into coaching.At the international level, Aswani also represented Harambee Stars, having established himself as one of the forwards who featured in the national team during his playing career.Simon Kuseyo Polo tournament set to light up Jamhuri Park this weekend