admin
Noel Munzabwa in Mbabane, Swaziland
WHITE feathers encountered by the Warriors on the Somhlolo National Stadium astro turf on Good Friday morning had nothing to do with juju, it has emerged.
The feathers are from a species of white birds known as cattle egrets that roost at the venue, a local journalist said.
The Warriors had gone to have a feel of the stadium in the morning ahead of their Group L Africa Cup of Nations tie against Swaziland when they were greeted by the “mysterious” feathers.
The match ended in a 1-1 stalemate and the two sides will meet again today at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
A local journalist said there was nothing mysterious about the feathers as the birds used the stadium to roost.
“Those were not chicken feathers, but birds we call amalanda, which use the stadium to roost. It’s always like that at Somhlolo Stadium. I was at the Sihlangu training session on Monday (last week) morning and there were white feathers all over the turf,” said the journalist.
“The birds are forced away from the stadium by the presence of people and the feathers have nothing to do with juju,” he said.
The Sihlangu National Soccer Supporters’ president Nkosilenhle Masuku also dismissed speculation by the Zimbabweans that they had encountered chicken feathers on the turf.
“Those were birds’ feathers and not chickens’,” said Masuku.
The birds are also known as amalanda in Swaziland, but the decision by those manning the gates to bar the Warriors from using a certain entry point fuelled speculation of juju in the Zimbabwean camp, which a Swazi football administrator referred to as “part and parcel of football in Africa”.
“We’re in Africa and juju use is part and parcel of football, so why not practise it considering the importance of such matches,” said the administrator, who is a member of the Premier League of Swaziland board of governors.
Amalanda means followers in Siswati and the egret has a habit of following cattle and other large animals.
There are several grazing areas, rivers and woodlands in the vicinity of Somhlolo Stadium.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu