Albert Mahlangu Exposes Spiritual Warfare in South African Football

Orlando Pirates legend Albert ‘Bashin’ Mahlangu has lifted the lid on what he believes lies behind the sudden dips in form and spate of injuries haunting some of South Africa’s top-flight footballers – and his accusations are aimed inside the dressing room.

The former Buccaneers midfielder claims that muti is being used by players against their own teammates, derailing careers from within.

“It’s tough on the pitch. I played for Pirates, and it wasn’t easy,” Mahlangu told KickOff, stressing that the pressure of the professional game can push some players into dark territory. In his view, that pressure is now manifesting in spiritual warfare between colleagues.

“Where are these players?”

Mahlangu did not speak in generalities. He pointed straight at examples in the current Orlando Pirates squad that trouble him.

“For example, at Pirates, where is Andre Jong? Where is Kabelo Dlamini?” he asked.

He then turned to Evidence Makgopa, a player he says he knew well and trusted to change games.

“Evidence Makgopa too, a player I knew very well, that he would always score if introduced in the second half, but he has disappeared.”

Yanela Mbuthuma’s trajectory also raised red flags for him. The forward arrived at Pirates from Richards Bay with a reputation for relentless scoring.

“Yanela Mbuthuma was brought in from Richards Bay, scoring goals from left, right, and centre. He got there at Pirates, he scored and scored... all of a sudden, he has stopped scoring. Surely, there is something happening with these boys,” Mahlangu said.

For the 62-year-old, these are not just form slumps or tactical casualties. He believes something more sinister may be at play.

“Use muti the right way”

Mahlangu is not condemning muti itself. He insists it has always had a place in the game, but he draws a hard line between using it to uplift the team and using it to sabotage a colleague.

“If you and I are teammates, you must use muti the right way. Use it to improve yourself and help the team win, not to destroy me,” he said.

“If I am destroyed, how are we supposed to play? You need 11 players on the pitch to form a team.”

He extended his concerns beyond Pirates, pointing to the injury crisis at Kaizer Chiefs as another example that raises questions.

“Kaizer Chiefs have five left-backs on the injury list. How is that possible?” he asked, leaving the implication hanging.

For Mahlangu, the message to today’s professionals is blunt: don’t walk into this unprotected.

He urged players to ensure they are spiritually shielded, warning that the battle doesn’t end when the final whistle blows – or even when the team bus leaves the stadium.

Guard your boots, guard your bag

Mahlangu painted a picture of a dressing room that is far from the safe haven fans might imagine.

“It’s not easy in these teams. People scream from the stands, shouting at players, but they don’t know the many challenges players face,” he said.

“If you are a professional footballer, use something to protect yourself. Please protect your gear – your soccer boots, kitbag with some muti of your own – so that when your teammate tries to put some muti in your bag, it doesn’t work.”

He then cited more names whose recent absences trouble him.

“When was the last time Tapelo Xoki played a match? Sihle Nduli had just returned from injury, but suddenly he’s injured again.”

For Mahlangu, these repeated setbacks fit into a pattern that can’t be explained only by bad luck or heavy schedules.

“Something is wrong”

To underline his point, Mahlangu contrasted the current era with his own playing days, describing what he sees as a dramatic shift in the nature and length of injuries.

“Such things were not common during our time,” he said.

“I played for Pirates for 12 years. In that period, I only had one ankle injury. I got injured today, and the next day I was back on the pitch.”

He then recalled a striking – and stark – personal story.

“Thanks to an old man who cut open my ankle and put some stuff in, and I was at training the following day.”

Today’s norm, in his eyes, looks very different.

“Nowadays, players get injured at training and stay out for six months. Imagine six months out? Something is wrong.”

That sense of unease runs through all his comments. For Mahlangu, the modern game is not just about tactics, conditioning, or sports science. It is also about unseen forces, old beliefs colliding with new pressures, and the quiet dangers he believes lurk in the changing room.

His closing plea to current professionals was as direct as it was unsettling.

“So, players, please protect yourself. Use something.”