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The two self-proclaimed sorcerers went numb at this point, before one handed over another unidentified object to a steward, passed it on to the ball-boy, who placed it behind the guests' goalposts.
I arrived in Masindi nine hours before kickoff, and at Masindi stadium at 1pm. By 9am, the entire town spelt one thing, the game. It was giving, the entire region gasped football.
But, also, many puffed witchcraft...
In the earlier hours, it was all a joke, sounded, a wisecrack and some josh of sorts.
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Yet, these guys meant every syllable, every dipthong and sonant, and were openly unapologetic about it.
As is a norm with myself (on away matches), I got into (with) the home faithful, blended with them and acted a pure Royal, bar a home kit.
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16:19 - 19.04.2024
UPL Avengers: Vipers topple nemesis Kitara to storm summit
The result completed revenge for Vipers, who only days back, suffered elimination from the Stanbic Uganda Cup, at the hands of Kitara via post-match penalties, as it had ended in a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes.
At this point, everything I initially took for a joke, everything I called out as a knee-slapper, turned into reality. The faithful (at least where I harboured, preached sorcery more than football, in the sort of, "there's no way these guys with their so-called money win the game (all loosely translated from Runyoro).”
A ”he knows we are here” happened moments later (an eavesdropped conversation, whose messenger went straight to the hosts' dressing room.)
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From then on, a man on the red hat with tattered apparel and a colleague in the stands, were the source of a lot that transpired on the pitch; to the stewards and the ball boys and the goalposts and the players (in red).
I witnessed the chemistry firsthand. At the moment, I was one of them, I was the MOST LOYAL of Royals, how funny! How ironic! How I hated them!. But, how, I loved the surrounding! How I didn't want to leave my spot! I wanted to know from the source!
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15:48 - 18.04.2024
STARS ABROAD Toby Sibbick: Salary and prospects at Hearts for the Uganda Cranes defender
Sibbick has since become a silent pillar for Hearts, playing 19 times in the league, appearing once in the Scottish Cup, thrice in the League Cup and featuring in three UEFA Conference League games.
Moments before kickoff, the two men left “our” spot, and minutes later, I saw them leave the away dressing room (no identities as staff personnel).
They returned and asserted and assured openly about how it was a done deal, an already sealed business. Assuredly, that “god“ had already “accepted to avenge” their first-leg defeat.
Minutes in, one delivered portions of unidentified stuff to a linesboy through a steward, and from then on, an away player (name withheld) endured an impairment, a sudden eye defect that blurred his visuals, at least untill the end of the first-half.
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As the away team received a freekick in the first-half that was later skewed wide, another portion was delivered prior, this time to the technical bench through the steward.
At halftime, the two headed towards the home team dressing room and didn't return until it was about three minutes into the second stanza.
Without any “warning,” at this point, rain hit the grounds following an entire day of scorching sunshine. Whether there was a relation or not, well it did.
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A home team player was later accused by the away team players for bearing “something” in his shorts, with referee Mashood Ssali ordering him off the pitch to take it out.
The two self-proclaimed sorcerers went numb at this point, before one handed over another unidentified object to a steward, passed it on to the ball-boy, who placed it behind the guests' goalposts.
Ironically though, the latter struck the second goal to seal victory on an unforgiving territory.
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Following the full-time whistle, the visitors never returned to their dressing room amidst fears of “further spells."
At this point, the ineffective men-at-work were off to their affiliated dressing room, and never returned.
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16:03 - 16.04.2024
Nakivubo Stadium was rejected by CAF - Magogo
"It (should) become a practice that we're involved as Federation (FUFA) to advise such that we don't get some challenges.”
Whether these were usual match rituals or witchcraft, the home crowd didn't seem awestruck. As for myself, the most amazing part of the game was in the stands than the pitch.
Note: Names therein withheld purposely.
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