Siya, thanks for making a swift return to this page so we can continue with what we started last week. Just as well, you had some crackers to share last time out, especially about the likes of Rowen Fernandez, Moeneeb Josephs and Erwin Isaacs. What do you have in store for us this time around?
I remember when we were at Jomo Cosmos, we would camp in Samrand, at the Protea Hotel. Bra J (Jomo Sono) organised a priest to come pray for the team. The guy got there and started praying for us. We were in a circle and then Themba Shabalala started sweating a lot while the prayer was going on. Then the guys started looking at him and the guy nearly collapsed. So, the priest went to Shabalala and he was like, "Ungangibambi (Don't hold me)", ha, ha, ha. It was funny because Themba had gone home and he had done a ceremony, after which he wore isiphandla (goat or cow skin bracelet). It looked like the priest wanted to touch his isiphandla, of all things. He just started sweating a lot and we were all there. The funny thing about Cosmos is that we would do a lot of things, but having a priest is not one of the things you'd see often. It was not a norm. It was a rare occasion for a priest to come pray for us, so I remember that incident with Shabalala very well. He nearly collapsed while the guy was praying.
That sounds hectic. So, what were you guys doing while all of this was happening?
We were supposed to have our eyes closed during the prayer, but we could see that there was something wrong with Shabalala. But you know as soccer players, in a serious situation like that, we end up laughing, instead of taking it seriously. But for the following game, the priest was not there, and the guys were saying it was Shabalala who scared the priest away, ha, ha, ha. We kept saying, "If it were not for you, the priest would still be here." That's the last time we saw him.
Well, talk about things not going according to the scriptures…
At Cosmos, if you come (and do pre-match rituals for the team), then we must win. If we don't win, then you don't return. Whether you are a muti man or a priest, we had to win, or else you would not return. I can't remember if we won or lost that game, but because the priest did not return, that means we did not win, ha, ha, ha.
Ha, ha, ha, hilarious! So, you had to deliver at the first time of asking as a muti man or a priest if you wanted to keep getting called back…
Yes, you had to deliver. The result had to be what you predicted. If you tell us that you are powerful, then we want to see your power.
That's a lot of pressure on one man.
We were looking to win promotion back then. We were still in the NFD (National First Division, now called Motsepe Foundation Championship) and we were playing at Makhulong, so that's why we were camping there (in Samrand), because it was quite close. So, if you were a priest, you had to deliver. There were plenty who came and did not deliver. Players can testify to that, ha, ha, ha. If you tell players not to walk to the right or not to shake their (opposition's) hands… there are a lot of things you need to do, based on the instructions, for it to work. We did a lot of things and we did not ask questions. We did as the team said.
Looks like this was all really hectic!
Even now, there are teams that do that. At Highlands Park, we had this thing we called 'car wash', where you go bath in a muti session. As soon as the phone rang in your room, you and your roommate would have to go and you'd find everything waiting for you. You get into a (hotel) room where there is a bathtub. You go in and you wash and there is nothing you can say. Sometimes you wash differently. You wash in one bathtub and then you get the rooms where there is an ensuite, and then you'd have to wash in that bathtub too. You were not supposed to wipe yourself after coming out of the bathtub.
What were they washing you in?
It was water, sprinkled with something in there. The water would change into red or green, depending on the muti. You would get in there and kneel and then get sprinkled and then the next person would go in. But we still got relegated with Highlands, ha, ha, ha.
Eish! But then why would they continue if it didn't work?
You can call other players and they can tell you that they still lose, even now.
So, what's the purpose?
I think it's not about the purpose. It's about belief. It's what the team believes in. Therefore, the players need to do what the team believes in. Some teams might not make the players do things, but you'd find that the kit is wet. They wet the kit just so that it's damp before you play. It's damp, not wet-wet. It's uncomfortable and it's heavy, ha, ha, ha. It's better when you play in the afternoon and it's hot because you have a natural air conditioner, ha, ha, ha.
Ha, ha, ha. Crazy stuff, man. Siya, thank you so much for your time. You have given us some proper insight into what happens behind the scenes at PSL clubs and, like you say, it seems these practices are still continuing to this day.
Thank you.
By Tshepang Mailwane
IN TOUCH FUN FACTS
Nickname: Tata
Marital status: Married
Car: VW Polo TSi
Boots: adidas X speed
Favourite teammate: Xola Mlambo (Bidvest Wits)
Favourite roommate: Keanan Phillips
Best friend in football: Iqraam Rayners
Favourite food: Pasta
Favourite footballer: Teboho Mokoena
