In this edition of My Muti Story current SuperSport United goalkeeper coach Grant Johnson delivers what is probably the best muti story you have ever heard.
Having played for the likes of Orlando Pirates, Manning Rangers, SuperSport United and Bafana Bafana, Johnson will always be regarded as one of the best goalkeepers South Africa has ever produced.
"The muti man is quite a topic in South Africa," Johnson tells KickOff.
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"I remember at one of the first clubs I played for in Durban, African Wanderers, the muti man was quite strong there.
"And my first introduction was when I walked into the changeroom, and obviously I was new to the scene and as a white boy not knowing what the hell was going on, there was a fire in the changeroom and apparently that was part of the ritual.
"I didn't know what was going on and I was a little bit shocked at the time and I wasn't really sure whether to put the fire out or join the guys that were dancing around it and jumping over the fire.
"Ja there were a lot of instances where I would be involved and I always treated it with respect, and if that's people's belief then so be it.
"I certainly don't believe in it, but I went along with it anyway.
"There were a couple of clubs I was involved in that used the muti men.
"I know for a fact in one of the games that I played in, the muti man came to me before a game and he put some material around my waist.
"Then I was taken to a bath full of sticks and I washed my body, and he said to me 'Johnson today you don't even need to dive the ball will be deflected by itself.'
"Anyway, we went out and played and we lost 4-1 [laughs].
"After the game, I went to him to ask what happened, and he said to me 'Sorry my man but the ancestors weren't happy with us today.'
"Those were just some of the things that happened, I've had my knees and elbows cut with a razor blade and put some black paste, I've had stones put in my socks, there's been animal fat rubbed in my body, there have been quite a few rituals that I had to go through over the years.
"But out of respect I did it, I treated it as some experience of something different, I treated it as an African culture.
"So ja it's part of the game I suppose and I've had lots of laughs during the time.
"Being called into the muti man's room at 11 p.m. sitting in my underpants underneath a sheet with an Urn bubbling with stuff and you sweating, with the muti man singing and chanting.
"So ja it's part of the game and I enjoyed the experience."
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