Albert Mahlangu on Spiritual Practices in Football

Orlando Pirates legend Albert ‘Bashin’ Mahlangu has lifted the lid on what he believes lies behind the sudden dip in form and spate of injuries affecting some of South Africa’s top-flight stars – accusing players of using muti against their own teammates.

Mahlangu, who wore the black and white of the Buccaneers for more than a decade, says the pressure of the professional game has driven some footballers to turn spiritual practices into weapons inside their own dressing rooms.

“Don't be fooled by people making noise, it's tough on the pitch. I played for Pirates, and it wasn't easy,” he told KickOff, before pointing directly at the current squad to back up his claims.

Where are these players?

The 62-year-old did not speak in generalities. He named names.

“For example, at Pirates, where is Andre Jong? Where is Kabelo Dlamini?” he asked.

He then turned to Evidence Makgopa, a striker he says he once trusted to change games from the bench.

“Evidence Makgopa too, a player I knew very well, that he would always score if introduced in the second half, but he has disappeared.”

Mahlangu also highlighted Yanela Mbuthuma, who arrived from Richards Bay with a reputation for scoring “from left, right, and centre.”

“He got there at Pirates, he scored and scored... all of a sudden, he has stopped scoring. Surely, there is something happening with these boys,” he said.

For Mahlangu, such abrupt shifts in fortunes are not simply down to form or tactics. He believes spiritual interference is at play.

Use muti the right way

Mahlangu is not dismissing muti. Far from it. He insists it has a place in football, but only as a tool for self-improvement and collective success – never as a way to sabotage a colleague.

“If you and I are teammates, you must use muti the right way. Use it to improve yourself and help the team win, not to destroy me,” he said. “If I am destroyed, how are we supposed to play? You need 11 players on the pitch to form a team.”

He widened his lens to the broader Premier Soccer League, pointing to Kaizer Chiefs’ injury woes in one specific position.

“Kaizer Chiefs have five left-backs on the injury list. How is that possible?” he asked, letting the question hang.

For him, these patterns are not coincidental. They are warnings.

Guard your boots, guard your bag

Mahlangu’s advice to today’s professionals is blunt: protect yourself – spiritually and practically.

“It's not easy in these teams. People scream from the stands, shouting at players, but they don't know the many challenges players face,” he said.

“If you are a professional footballer, use something to protect yourself. Please protect your gear – your soccer boots, kitbag with some muti of your own – so that when your teammate tries to put some muti in your bag, it doesn't work.”

He again returned to current players to underline his fears.

“When was the last time Tapelo Xoki played a match? Sihle Nduli had just returned from injury, but suddenly he’s injured again.”

For Mahlangu, these repeated setbacks fit a troubling pattern he believes clubs and players cannot afford to ignore.

In our time, this was not common

To drive home his point, the former midfielder contrasted the modern era with his own career at Orlando Pirates.

“Such things were not common during our time,” he said. “I played for Pirates for 12 years. In that period, I only had one ankle injury.”

The story of that lone injury is as stark as it is revealing.

“I got injured today, and the next day I was back on the pitch. Thanks to an old man who cut open my ankle and put some stuff in, and I was at training the following day.”

Today, he looks at the length of modern layoffs with disbelief.

“Nowadays, players get injured at training and stay out for six months. Imagine six months out? Something is wrong.”

His message to the current generation is clear, and it comes with a warning.

“So, players, please protect yourself. Use something,” he said.

The game, in his eyes, is no longer just 11 against 11. It is also about who walks onto the pitch spiritually armed – and who doesn’t.