In the latest instalment of My Muti Story, we chat to former Orlando Pirates player Thulasizwe Mbuyane on his brushes with muti during his playing days.
Who and Where?
"Most teams do use Muti. Both Free State Stars and Orlando Pirates did use Muti. At Pirates, I remember the day Moeneeb Josephs and Robyn Johannes left camp after refusing to use muti. They refused to bath in muti. I think it was during Ruud Krol's season in charge."
Why were you doing it?
"We were never told why."
Who was the muti man?
"It was Bra Boy. He used to say 'Naba labantu naba labantu'...Aah but nothing happened. We were not allowed to shake hands with opponents."
What did you have to do?
"We had to bathe in muti. We had to go inside a hotel room one by one, when guys like Moeneeb and Robyn decided they had had enough of this muti thing. All we heard was 'Ons waai my broer', meaning we are going. 'They left the camp. Irvin Khoza had to phone them and tell them, 'Hey nina! Go and bath!' They returned, and they were finally bathed, very angry, of course. Eyi mara besigeza ku Pirates! Moeneeb and Robyn didn't like the itching part of the muti. You can't stand still after you have taken a bath, hence we were always running at Pirates."
Did everyone take part?
"Everyone. Though Moeneeb and Robyn had to be forced."
What stood out?
"That these things never work. I think they were giving us dirt or soil.
What was the result?
"We won that match, though I can't remember exactly, who we were playing against. But it was not because of muti, that stuff doesn't work in football."
