Former Asante Kotoko captain, Michael Akuffu, has spoken out about the presence of black magic, commonly referred to as 'juju', in football, particularly within the intense rivalry between Kotoko and Hearts of Oak.
In an exclusive interview with Akoma FM in Kumasi, Akuffu shared his personal encounters with juju, highlighting its impact on players during the heated clashes between the two iconic teams.
Akuffu recounted a specific instance where he felt the weight of juju during a Super Clash against Hearts of Oak.
"There is juju in Kotoko versus Hearts games. I experienced it. I recall in one of the games, after the warm-up, I realized something was wrong with me," Akuffu revealed. "I was very fine before the match, but right after the warm-up, I felt heavy, like carrying the weight of the whole world on my shoulders. I felt very unwell, so I ran to the coach to complain, and he told me this was the reality of Kotoko vs Hearts games. It was very normal. I thought I couldn't play, but the coach insisted that I play."
Despite initially feeling unwell and heavy, Akuffu persevered through the discomfort, eventually leading his team to victory.
"However, I don't think the juju determines the total outcome of the game though, but there are tangential operations of juju in such games, including targeting key players," he added. "I struggled in the first 20 minutes of the game before I eventually overcame it, and we went on to win that game."
While acknowledging the presence of juju, Akuffu maintained that it does not solely determine match outcomes. However, he noted its tangential influence, including targeting key players.
As the Ghana Premier League continues, the legendary rivalry between Kotoko and Hearts remains a spectacle of passion, tradition, and now, mystical tales.
