Former Super
Eagles Defender, Taribo West has just made a shocking confession recently. The
ex-footballer has just revealed that during his football career days he used
juju to play on the field.
The
ex-footballer turned pastor said he had a manager from Senegal and his manager
would take him to several native doctors in Senegal where they will cut his
tongue, hands and legs and then cook it.
He
said,
“I
spend most of my time at home meditating. All I want to do is to keep spreading
the gospel. In my own little way, I have been into evangelisation visiting
places like Ughelli and within the Orile community, Ajegunle and so on. God has
been kind during these visits to preach the gospel to people who are yet to
receive Christ. We believe He will take us globally very soon.
Taribo
revealed that his move to Europe found him entangled in another life of
charms and superstitious beliefs.
With
a new-found life of affluence, the defender paid huge sums of money for him to
be supplied charms to win games, protect him from career-threatening injuries
and also to be foretold the results of matches before they were played.
He used
to burn candles and hold a magical stone from Israel before games.
Taribo said,
“Of course yes (I was involved). I don’t know why people decline to talk
about their involvement with charms. Football has to do with a lot of powers.
When there are big events, you look at the stadium, you see people, fans
invoking all kinds of things; magicians are there, voodooists are there.“In my playing days, when I was ignorant, I used to get some mallams and babalawos (traditional doctors) to make charms for us, which we took to (national) camp. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t.
“In some clubs, before every game, the president or leader of the club will give you a lucky charm to play with. They will tell you to put it in your boots or socks and play. It’s their superstitious belief; that it can help them win matches.
“There are some coaches who are connected to African magicians and soothsayers from Senegal, Burkina Faso, Zaire or even Nigeria. These people are consulted to give these coaches results of games even before the matches are played.
“These people see strange things and they can tell you with their magic and charms, what the outcome of a match will be. People believe and use it. It works for those who believe in it. I saw it, I experienced it, I was with players that used it and I used it. So, why are people denying it? There are charms and rituals in football. It still exists.”
Taribo
gave his life to Christ after meeting Patience Ikemefuna, an evangelist who
lives in America marking a new phase in the 1996 Olympic Games gold
medallist’s life.
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