There has been much speculation around the use of ‘Muti’ amongst South African clubs, particularly by the likes of Chiefs and Pirates, with footage often surfacing as ‘proof’.
It has also been alluded to by many past and present players, but nothing has quite confirmed the lengths these clubs would go to in their belief that external forces help them win matches.
That is until the current Amakhosi development coach spoke openly to the media ahead of this weekend’s Absa Premiership clash between the two Soweto giants.
Having played for both clubs during his career, as well as Mamelodi Sundowns, during the early-to-mid ‘80s and ‘90s, Khuse has since recalled some of the practices he underwent before a Derby.
“I was at Pirates and I know what they used to do in those days. They would take us somewhere – I can’t say it now, but they would take us somewhere to go and do funny things at night,” revealed ‘Ace’.
“The same happened at Chiefs. I’m not sure what is happening at this present moment at Chiefs. [But] it’s all in the mind, man, if you believe these things will work.
“Because, you know, the guy – our Muti man – would travel maybe from training and just pass a river,” he began explaining, before confirming that this particular incident was at Chiefs.
“And he’d say, ‘Stop! Stop! Stop!’ and our driver would stop. He’d go out and say he’s meeting someone from Swaziland, right there – he was just lying!
“He’d then come and cut us and do all these funny things, and say, ‘You saw I was talking to this guy there,’ and we thought this guy was doing the right thing.
“When we got there, we’d even be [mentally] ready and we thought it was really what was happening, but he was just lying. There was nothing like that.”
Asked whether it may be what the current crop of Glamour Boys needed to end their winless run of eight league games against The Buccaneers, instead Khuse insisted he believes this weekend’s clash will go in favour of the Naturena-based outfit.
“I’m not sure. I’m praying that this time we beat Pirates, because it’s been a long time since [we last beat them] – it’s too much, and it is embarrassing for Chiefs to lose so many games against Pirates,” he added.
“I think the guys are ready, and they’ll go in there and battle it out and win it for Chiefs.”
The two giants will meet at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon - kick-off is scheduled for 15h30.