Former Asante Kotoko captain Michael Akuffu has shared vivid memories of experiencing black magic, commonly known as ‘juju,’ during a match between Kotoko and Hearts of Oak.
The ex-midfielder recalled being specifically targeted in one such game and the challenges he faced before he could take to the field.
In an interview on Akoma FM in Kumasi, when asked whether juju played a role in the fierce encounters between Hearts and Kotoko, Akuffu admitted that he was skeptical about its existence until he personally experienced it.
“There is juju in Kotoko versus Heart’s games. I experienced it. I recall in one of the games, after the warm up, I realised something was wrong with me.
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“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 run 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.
“I struggled in the first 20 minutes of the game before I eventually overcame it, we went on to win that game.
“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.
Michael Akuffu scored the winning goal in the dying embers of the game when Kotoko played Hearts in on April 15, 2012 through a terrific 30-yard drive.
Raphael Sarkodie|Akoma Sports|Ghana
