Baloyi: How I Stopped Penalties With Magic Bag

During his time at Kaizer Chiefs specifically, Baloyi was seen carrying a bag onto the playing field and kept it in goal which left many opposition players mystified.

The legendary goal-minder admits contrary to wild speculation, the bag was mainly used for a spare pair of gloves, a water bottle, and a small towel. Nothing else. No magic. 

"I remember the first time I carried it; people started wanting to know what's in the bag. I just used it to have spare gloves and a bottle of water and a small towel," Baloyi said in Karabo Phasha's podcast. 

"That's what made me persistent in wanting to carry it and every club in the PSL back then even Wits were using African magic so the opposition were concerned what's in the bag," he added. 

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Baloyi became a huge fan favourite during penalty shoot-outs with the Glamour Boys as he helped them to successive Rothmans Cup (now Carling Knockout) titles in 1997 and 1998. His time at the club saw him win big silverware such as the CAF Cup Winners Cup in 2001 and the PSL title in the 2003/04 season before moving to rivals Mamelodi Sundowns. 

"I learnt very quickly as a professional that football is mental and that football for me to get an upper-hand on the opposition and on penalties I needed to get into your head and when I saw that people are concerned about this, I knew this is something that when I get into the game, they are worried about the bag," Baloyi said. 

"So, his mind is off the game and that's why with penalties, I would always carry it and some players told me that when it's penalties, don't kick to the side where the bag is because even if you kick there and he goes the other side, the ball is going to go out (laughs)," he indicated. 

At the age of 36 in 2009, Baloyi was impressively part of Bafana Bafana's 2009 FIFA Confederation Cup squad on home soil even though he didn't get any minutes on the field of play.