Arrows players fear ancestors’ wrath
Golden Arrows duo Siyabonga Dube and Sibusiso Sibeko were surprised by the referee’s decision to have them remove their isiphandlas (wrist bands made of goat skin).
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – OCTOBER 19: Siyabonga Dube of Golden Arrows and Lesiba Nku of Polokwane City during the Telkom Knockout 2019, Last 16 match between Golden Arrows and Polokwane City at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images)
Referee Jelly Chavani ordered the duo to remove the wrist bands during the Telkom Knockout clash against Polokwane City on Saturday, which Arrows won 1-0.
Dube says he fears that the ancestors might punish him for removing his isphandla.
“I cover them up when playing. I don’t know how it affects the game,” Dube told the Daily Sun.
“Isiphandla comes off automatically after a while,” said Dube. “When I was told to take it off I knelt down and prayed in the change room. I told my ancestors the situation was beyond my control.”
Sibeko was disappointed that the referee force them to remove the bands as he expected him to understand the purposes of isiphandla.
“We explained to referee Chavani and his assistants that this is our culture, but they didn’t understand. The worst part is that it was black people who told us to take it off, as if they don’t know why we wear it.
“Hopefully my ancestors understand. I didn’t have a choice. I’ll have to hear from my family what to do. I’m sure there are consequences.”
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