Simba Sports Club have been slapped with $ 10,000 fine by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after the club was found guilty of entertaining superstitious beliefs during a CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinal match against Orlando Pirates at Orlando Stadium in Pretoria.
The Tanzanian side reportedly formed a huddle in the center circle during the warm-ups before a trail of smoke emerged out of it prior to the match where Pirates went on to win 1-0 in regulation time for a 1-1 aggregate scoreline but they progressed to the semi-finals via penalty shootouts.
In an official statement, CAF stated, “The officials of the [Orlando Pirates-Simba SC] match indicated in their reports that: Simba SC players lit the fire in the center circle exactly at the starting point as they pretended to pray before the match started.
“We had to pour water on the fire to put it out before we could start the game. Furthermore, Orlando Pirates club sent a complaint about the incident and the damage which occurred to the pitch.
“After having heard the arguments of the parties concerned, analysed the videos and images in its possession, Caf Disciplinary Board has decided to impose the following sanctions for failure to comply and implement existing safety rules: $10,000 for the performance of hazardous rituals by your players before the start of the match.”
South Africa Football Association had also raised concern stating that Simba’s action was disrespectful given that SA teams would not go to another country and openly practise muti rituals in the middle of a field before a game.
