Leopards wary of Tanzanian ‘juju’ ahead of Yanga clash
AFC Leopards are said to be on the lookout for possible “black magic” and underhand tactics that could be employed by host team Yanga in the run up to Thursday’s SportPesa Super Cup semi-final match.
Infact, the Kenyan giants are considering outsourcing their meals on the day of this game against the Tanzania giants at the Uhuru Stadium, with the Kenyan Embassy in Dar es Salaam one possible alternative.
These two teams will lock horns in a high-billed contested that will see the winner advancing to the final where a Sh3 million prize money awaits the tournament champions.
The winners will also have a chance to play against English Premier League club Everton FC.
But Leopards, conquerors of Singida United in the quarters, who are coached by Tanzanian Dennis Kitambi, are a worried lot.
WITCHCRAFT
“I have been in Tanzania and I know what happens when you meet such teams. This is the day we call for maximum security. We even requested to have our meals prepared elsewhere, probably at the Kenyan Embassy,” a club official who spoke to Nairobi News off the record explained.
He added: “These guys can do anything to ensure they reach the final. They want to play Everton and this is the match that will appeal mostly to the locals over here, even the whole country plus sponsors.”
Gor Mahia are set to face Nakuru All Stars in the other semi-final fixture.
Several theories have in the past been peddled as to how Tanzanian teams turn to witchcraft or other underhand tactics over their opponents in a bid to secure undue advantage on the pitch.
For example, during the 2015 Cecafa Kagame Cup in Tanzania Gor Mahia refused to use the away team’s dressing room when facing home teams for fear of witchcraft.
At the same time, new Leopards coach Dorian Marin has linked up with the team in Dar and was on Wednesday conducted the training sessions.
The Romanian coach is however not expected to be in the dugout during the duel against Yanga.
