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Ex-Gor Mahia captain Moses ‘Dube’ Odhiambo revealed Tanzania’s Simba and Yanga allegedly practiced witchcraft before football matches.
Former Gor Mahia captain Moses ‘Dube’ Odhiambo has lifted the lid on some bizarre and comical experiences he encountered during his time with Tanzanian football powerhouses Simba SC and Yanga SC, claiming that acts of witchcraft were part of the football culture in the country.
Odhiambo, who enjoyed a distinguished 20-year playing career, turned out for some of the most prominent clubs in East Africa.
He began his career playing for the likes Meru Bombers and Utalii FC and Tusker before going on to feature for, Gor Mahia Thika United, Sofapaka, Ushuru, Nakuru All Stars, and Nairobi City Stars.
He also enjoyed spells abroad with Rwandan giants APR and South Africa’s Witbank Spurs. However, his most memorable experiences arguably came during his time in Tanzania, where he represented both Simba and Yanga — bitter rivals in the famous Kariakoo Derby.
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They Believe in Witchcraft in Tanzania - Odhiambo
“In Tanzania, those things [witchcraft] exist — and you see them live,” Odhiambo said on Sema na Javar, “If you believe in them, they involve you. But they respected Kenyan players. If you said no, they would leave you alone and continue their rituals.”
The former midfielder described scenes that included players being asked to step on wild fruits until they broke, strange herbal concoctions emitting smoke, and even unsettling stories of the dead being brought to stadiums under the cover of darkness.
“I saw people mixing coloured things, smoke coming out… it was weird,” he recalled. “They would bring fruits in a winnower, and the first-choice goalkeeper had to step on them until they broke. I just watched through the window. I knew my God would guide me.”
He added that players were sometimes subjected to cleansing rituals involving water mixed with herbs, feet washing, and even cuts made with blades on their knees — all believed to boost performance.
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Witchcraft Ingrained in Their Football Culture
“They believe if they win, it’s because of that,” Odhiambo said. “Even during the game or halftime, witchdoctors — the babus — would come in and do their part. Win or lose, you still had to pay them.”
Odhiambo, revered for his playmaking skills and ability to deliver in big games, spent his prime years at Gor Mahia and is considered one of the most well-traveled Kenyan players of his generation.
Yet, it is the stories from across the border that continue to raise eyebrows and generate laughter.
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“Those things are deeply rooted in their football culture. Even in grassroots games, it happens. You can find the footage online,” he said.
While his comments were laced with humour, they shed light on the cultural contrasts and superstitions that still influence parts of African football — particularly in one of the continent’s most fiercely contested derbies.
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