Soldiers of fortune

SUPERSTITION — ’tis an awful curse. For those of us who labour under its heavy yoke, life becomes a bizarre procession of ritual and counter-ritual, all designed to ensure the best possible outcome to whatever challenge is placed in front of us.

Sport is particularly riddled with the virus. The modern professional sportsman may be meticulously prepared with psychologists, video analysts, dieticians, fitness experts and others all laid on to ensure that nothing is left 'to chance' but the final result could still hinge on whether a key player has put on his left boot before his right or whether he kissed his daughter before the game.

Prepare the guy as much as you want, if his head is not right come match day it will all have been in vain.