The explanation for the belt which has caused controversy in Ghana

In Ghana, alarm bells sounded when it was discovered that the Hearts of Oak player Abubakar Traore was wearing a belt around his waist. 

In the middle of the match against Kotoko, the footballer fell to the floor and a strange looking belt was soon revealed. The rumour of him using a belt to give bad luck to opponents circulated. 

However, the sports journalist Saddick Adams gave a different reason. In the end, it was neither a sign of bad luck for the opponents nor an object to be used as a weapon. 

"It's a belt which many young men in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali usually wear," he commented on his Twitter account. 

Adams says he has relatives who also wear it. "It's common amongst the Moishe group and it's called 'Seberi'. It's spiritual, mostly for protection," he added.

The journalist compared it to the Rosary which some Christian players wear. "In Ghana, it could seem surprising, but it is not strange in his hometown," he concluded.

 

June 16, 2019