70% of African players believe in ‘juju’ men than in modern doctors -Odemwingie

Former Super Eagles star, Osaze Odemwingie has revealed how he was once taken to a ‘juju’ man when he broke his arm as a teenager.

The Russia-born Nigerian, 37, narrated the scenario in an interview with a leading Russian digital sports tabloid, championat.

At 17, Odemwingie returned to Nigeria to play briefly for amateur club AS Racines Lagos before transferring to Bendel Insurance, where he spent two years.

“I had a fall in training, I also hurt my shoulder and broke my arm. I was afraid to tell my mom so they took me to the local juju man,” Odemwingie said.

“They poured hot water to relax their muscles. Somehow they returned the hand to the place, while I yelled, they twisted some small sticks. They conjured something. Some local affairs. And there was a rite with a chicken.

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“I came home, my mother saw the hand: ‘Broke?’ I answered: ‘Yes.’ And I was taken to a regular hospital, anesthesia was done, they put the plaster on. All is well in the end.”

Odemwingie, who currently plays for Madura United in Indonesia, went on to say that at least 70% of African players would rather patronize a herbalist than seek treatment from modern doctors.

When asked if herbalists are more important than doctors in African teams, he said:

“No, just at least 70% of players believe in it. They think that some kind of salve will save them. This is more suggestion. Brainwashing goes.

“But three years in Nigeria have been helpful to me. They called me to the big league, and there my career developed much faster.”

Odemwingie last played in the International scenes when he represented Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but he has been vocal enough even as he worked as a pundit during the 2018 World Cup.

 

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