Ghana soccer coach Goran Stevanovic accuses players of witchcraft
Ghana’s Serbian coach Goran Stevanovic reacts during the third-place playoff Africa Cup of Nations football match between Mali and Ghana, in Malabo, on Febuary 11, 2012. Mali won the match 2-0.
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Ghana soccer coach Goran Stevanovic has blamed rifts in the national squad on players using witchcraft against each other, according to a BBC report from Accra.
A leaked report on the Black Stars' failures at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations revealed the Serbian's comments, the BBC said.
Ghana had been a favorite at the soccer tournament, but the team was beaten by eventual winners Zambia in the semi-finals.
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"We all need to help in changing some players' mentality about using 'black power' to destroy themselves, and also make sure we instill discipline and respect for each other," Stevanovic said in a report to the Ghana Football Association's (GFA) executive committee, according to the BBC.
"After losing to Zambia, there arose so many accusations amongst the players. I have learnt great lessons from African football and also about Ghanaian players' behavior on and off the field," he added.
"It has always happened, but players have used it to protect themselves and normally in search of luck," Sarfo Gyami, a former Ghana team member told the BBC.
"I have never heard of a situation when players have used it against their own colleagues. That is a very bad situation."
Agence France-Presse reported that the GFA is currently reviewing Stevanovic's contract.
Ghana is schedule to play Chile in a friendly match in the United States next week.
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