Tanzania clamps down on juju

By Emmanuel Muga
BBC Sport, Dar-es- Salaam

Simba are Tanzania's reigning champions

The interim committee of the Football Association of Tanzania (Fat) has penalised the country's top two teams, Simba and Yanga, for allegedly using witchcraft.

Both sides performed various juju rituals before and during Sunday's league match in Dar-es-Salaam, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

"These are our biggest clubs and their strong beliefs in witchcraft can set a bad example for upcoming teams," said Mwina Kaduguda, the secretary-general of Fat's interim committee.

"We have fined both teams $500 and we are also going to start a campaign to educate all the teams in the league that juju has no place in football."

The rituals included two Yanga players urinating on the pitch in an attempt to neutralise a substance placed on the field by Simba during half time.

Yanga captain Paul John Masanja also refused to shake hands with his Simba counterpart Seleman Matola.

Masanja said that he had been instructed not to offer his hand but declined to say who had told him to do so.