Magic is commonplace in sport. This year at the World Cup, a shaman from Ecuador, Tzamarenda Naychapi, has already visited and blessed all 12 pitches and their goalposts, with the hope of bringing good vibes.
"I've come to purify this important place for the World Cup and to bring positive energy," Naychapi told reporters in Leipzig, before letting out a loud scream at the halfway mark to chase away evil spirits.
He isn't alone. The Ghanaians will have a veritable army of medicine men behind the posts in the hopes of keeping the opponents' karma misaligned. Togo and Tunisia will boast dueling sets of witch doctors, all with specialized potions and dances. And don't be surprised to see some voodoo practicioners for Trinidad and Tobago in the crowd.
Just the other day, coach Luis Aragones of Spain told Raul to leave the practice field. His offense? Wearing a yellow shirt, which the kabala-dabbling Aragones believes is unlucky. In fact, it could be argued that the ritual chanting of the English fans — a country with a long tradition of spell-casting and wizardry — is a form of sympathetic magic as well.
