Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, who now pastors the Shelter in The Storm Miracle Ministries–a Lagos based church–has told The Punch that the use of superstitious elements and occult powers is still rife in the modern game.

Taribo West laced his boots for Nigeria at the biggest stages–the World Cup and the Nations Cup and he was at the heart of the defence when the U-23 Dream Team carted home the gold in the football event of the Atlanta ’96 Olympics. He also played for some of the biggest football clubs in Europe viz; Auxerre, AC Milan, Inter Milan, among others.

Taribo says while his football career lasted, calling on other-worldly powers was the thing to do.

“Of course yes, I was involved in the use of charms. I don’t know why people decline to talk about their involvement with charms. Football has to do with a lot of powers. When there are big events, you look at the stadium, you see people, fans invoking all kinds of things; magicians are there, voodooists are there”, Taribo told the newspaper.

He says footballers have to admit that they call on the powers of the occult to win games and come clean.

“In my playing days, when I was ignorant, I used to get some mallams and babalawos (traditional doctors) to make charms for us, which we took to (national) camp. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t.

“In some clubs, before every game, the president or leader of the club will give you a lucky charm to play with. They will tell you to put it in your boots or socks and play. It’s their superstitious belief; that it can help them win matches.

“There are some coaches who are connected to African magicians and soothsayers from Senegal, Burkina Faso, Zaire or even Nigeria. These people are consulted to give these coaches results of games even before the matches are played.

“These people see strange things and they can tell you with their magic and charms, what the outcome of a match will be. People believe and use it. It works for those who believe in it. I saw it, I experienced it, I was with players that used it and I used it. So, why are people denying it? There are charms and rituals in football. It still exists.”

Taribo says his life was turned full circle when Patience Ikemefuna, a gospel evangelist who resides in America, paid him a visit in Milan.

Ikemefuna was perplexed when she discovered that Taribo was deeply involved in occultism. There were charms in his wardrobe and other parts of his apartment. Even though her host resisted initially, she convinced him and after several praying sessions, Taribo gave his life to Christ, writes The Punch.

“God used her to change my life and ever since, my life has never been the same. I’m grateful to her. When I had an encounter with God and I became born again, I discovered that these powers were powerless. It was an avenue to collect money from us. There are lots of voodoo practices in football. If you are not with God, you have to be with the devil; with the devil they come with everything,” he added.

Taribo says there is no basis for comparison between living in Christ and pitching tent with the Devil.

“You can’t compare,” he said. “When I was living that ignorant life, I was in darkness. In the darkness, the devil can give you what God can also give you, but he will give you without joy and peace. Eventually, you will end up in sorrow. But when you experience the joy of Christ, it adds no sorrow.

“The joy of the Lord is not only my strength; it gives me everything I need in life. The love of Christ comes with freedom, success, favour, expansion and a better life. When you have all these, you have everlasting peace. That is why I am comfortable today and I’m happy how God has seen me thus far.”

A hard-nosed, fearsome defender in his playing days; who grew up in Shomolu, a Lagos suburb, Taribo says watching his best friend getting stabbed by a rival gang before bleeding to death, was the elixir he needed to make it in his footballing life.

“In the midst of all these, God has created for everyone a shelter”, he says of his church, “where everything in your life will be restored again.”

Somebody shout Hallelujah.