Witchcraft problem at Orlando Pirates? Richard Ofori opens up on challenges at Soweto giants - 'You could start believing someone is using Muti on you'

AmaZulu goalkeeper Richard Ofori has broken his silence on his struggles at Premier Soccer League side Orlando Pirates.

During his last season with the Sea Robbers, the Ghanaian made just three appearances before he finally parted ways with the club. Despite that, the 31-year-old keeper said he did not carry grudges with anyone, as he says his reduced playtime was understandable.

"Yes, that (not playing) also happens in football. It's normal. In addition to the mental strength. Firstly, I will say, check your surroundings; that's very key. You are not playing, and you are injured; it's easy to slip into a negative mindset," Ofori told KickOff. 

"You could start believing someone is using something on you (muti), or things like that. So, that's where the problem starts. You have to protect your mind; if you can protect your mind, you have already protected yourself from so many things.

"Most of the time, when we players go through those stages, we lose our focus, and instead of focusing on how to improve, we focus on things that don't help us."

Although he was sparingly used, Ofori felt the need to keep supporting Bucs because football, unlike tennis, is a team sport.

"Every player wants to play, but it is about the team, not the individual. If you want to play an individual sport, then you should play, maybe, tennis. It's about the team here," Ofori added.

"So, for me, it was just a case of whether you are playing or not, you have to support your teammates. It is a team sport. Your teammate is not the coach. That's what players need to remember. The teammate is not a member of management; your teammate is your teammate, and you are fighting for one goal.

"So, if you are not getting the chance to play, it's not because your teammate is blocking your opportunity. If you start fighting your teammates, you will end up destroying what you have built for years. If you want to be a leader, you have to be selfless," he continued.

"I was at Pirates; I would go to the national team, come back from the national team, and still not play, but the team was always more important than the individual."

Before he left, Ofori was one of the experienced players at the Soweto giants, and the fact that he was rarely used raised eyebrows and criticism alike.

After he left the Sea Robbers at the end of the 2023/24 season, he went on to establish himself as a dependable shot stopper at Usuthu.

Last season, he managed to record nine clean sheets in 22 games, and his contributions were key to AmaZulu's push for a top-eight finish. They eventually ended the season sitting in the sixth position.

After being overlooked and offloaded by Pirates, it is up to Ofori to work even harder and show what the Soweto giants might be missing.

Next season with AmaZulu will be another opportunity for him to prove that he is one of the top goalkeepers in the PSL.