Monday's Indian Express carried a photo of the South African conventional faith healers performing prayers for the success of the Bafana Bafana. And at the time of going to the post, it seemed that the voodoo seemed to have worked with SA leading 2 goals at HT. Apparently Ray Domenech's picking players based on astrology didn't work out much to the benefit of the Blues. (though i wonder he would have played Evra and Henry even if their stars were in the right alignment ;P). Which brings me to the topic about soccer stars and their favourite superstitions. Apparently Kolo Toure believes it would bring his side luck if he is the last man to walk out of the tunnel. Which apparently meant that Arsenal started off with 9 men after half time in a match when Gallas was receiving treatment for an injury and Toure waiting for Gallas to walk out before him ! Apparently former Argentine coach Carlos Bilardo made his team shake hands with a bride as brides bring luck. (btw, is the new found beard on Bilardo's star player in that world cup, Diego Maradona, also some kinda goodluck charm ?)
But perhaps the best one comes from Italian Giovanni Trapattoni, who coached the Republic of Ireland, Germany, Austria, Portugal as well as his home team, and was often seen sprinkling holy water given to him by his sister, who's a nun! But he made sure to sprinkle it only on his part of the field!
Meanwhile, voice your opinion on whether Feng Shui or vaastu of a certain stadium also play a part in the team's fortune ? :P (Check out the details of the 10 stadia to be used in fifa 2010 here.)
perhaps the All Whites can start doing a Haka before their games ! Wouldnt that be fun ?
ReplyDeleteNice one... the higher you go, the greater is the need for divine intervention.. Poor Domenech.. rather looking at the stars if only he had looked at the Stars :)...
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