Ghanaian football icon Mohammed Polo, revered as one of the nation’s most technically gifted players, has shared a bizarre and unsettling experience involving a juju ritual during his illustrious playing career. The former Hearts of Oak star described the encounter as providing him with profound spiritual clarity.
In an interview with Sporty FM, Polo recounted a moment where he confronted what he perceived to be a “satanic ritual” disguised as a healing process. “I went to the North and they did some concoction and there was fire in a calabash, and it was not burning. Is it not satanic, and it happened? They were cooking something for me to smear on my leg, and they did like they were removing pains in my legs,” Polo detailed.
The “Dribbling Magician,” who captivated fans with his pace, dribbling, and vision over a 21-year career, acknowledged the prevalence of juju in football but asserted that he has never placed his faith in it. “There are lots of juju in football, it’s normal. It plays when you believe in it because when you do juju, juju will go against you. I know it is there, but I don’t believe juju can do anything to me, but as a human, Satan is there and Satan has his own ways,” he explained.
Polo was the inaugural recipient of the Ghana Footballer of the Year award in 1975 and was a pivotal figure in Ghana’s 1978 AFCON triumph. Despite his tournament being cut short by injury, he played in four of the five matches and delivered crucial assists, including the semi-final-winning pass to Abdul Razak and another to Opoku Afriyie in the final against Uganda. Many believed he was a strong contender for Player of the Tournament, ultimately finishing as the third-best player behind Razak and Uganda’s Philip Omondi.
Throughout his career, Mohammed Polo amassed an astonishing 29 trophies in both club and international football before retiring in 1993. Today, he continues to contribute to the sport as a coach and nurturer of young talent.
