It will be interesting to see how the Zambian Premier League (ZPL) will deal with clubs that are heavy on superstitions and odd pre-match rituals in the 2024–25 season.
ZPL chief executive officer Joseph Chimpampwe recently revealed that there will be no room for those antics.
Teams that avoid the tunnel at Edwin Imboela by jumping the perimeter fence and those that use their buses as dressing rooms have been warned. Not forgetting those who drive into the stadium in reverse.
“One of the issues we have been interested in is the disciplinary issues we had last season, with very unwarranted actions, such as teams entering in reverse and climbing wall fences.
“We are going to be very strict, and the charges will be very punitive, mostly financially,” Chimpampwe warned on national TV, ZNBC.
You see, superstitions and rituals are a big part of Zambian football. From the subtle to the bizarre, these practices are followed religiously because many believe that skill and strategy alone are not enough to guarantee success on the pitch.
Consider Nkana’s imaginary rub on the head, a sprinkle of sea salt on the goal line, or players opting to avoid taking a shower before the game; each practice is crafted to instill confidence, ward off bad luck, or simply unsettle the opposition.
Bolanews takes you through some of the deep-rooted superstitions in the Super League.
Wearing underwear inside out
If you were to conduct a random inspection ahead of most games, you would be surprised at what you would find. Grown-up men wear their undies inside out, front to back.
It sounds ridiculous but one Super League coach whose name has been withheld to maintain trust confirmed that this trick is a regular at most clubs.
“There are a lot [of superstitions],” the coach admited. “One that you may find interesting is players wearing their underwear inside out so that they have a good game.”
Whether it’s a psychological boost or a genuine belief in the power of an inverted boxer, this superstition is a staple in many dressing rooms.
The Menses Taboo
In most clubs, women officials are barred from entering the camp, especially during their menstrual cycle. It’s an ancient belief that menses bring bad luck, and teams will stop at nothing to avoid it.
“It doesn’t matter the position of the woman at the club; most players discourage women from visiting or having access to players when in camp,” the coach says. “it is a bit of an issue now more so that we have a lot of women officials at clubs but some coaches don’t like that.”
A female player remarked, “I experienced one where we were told that we couldn’t use the pitch till the men had used it. Ati we are unclean, especially if we had anyone on their menses.”
Reverse Psychology
Picture this: A team driving into the stadium premises in reverse, as if retreating from the game before it’s even begun. This is a common practice by teams visiting MUZA among others.
“There are times when a team believes that you have to drive into the opponent’s stadium in reverse gear so that to undo any spells that they may have cast against you,” a source says.
Unorthodox as it may be, the practice is believed to among other things confuse opponents. Whether it’s a clever mind game or sheer superstition, this ritual has become a talking point in the football community.
Smearing Eggs on the wall
Raw eggs in the dressing room? It may sound like a recipe for disaster, but some teams swear by this bizarre practice. Smearing eggs on the walls or floor is believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.
To counter this, most visiting clubs shun the dressing and prefer to change from the team bus.
Whether you believe in their power or dismiss them as mere quirks, these rituals are a big part of our beautiful game. So, the next time you watch a match, remember the bizarre practices that might just be giving your favorite team an edge. Who knows?
