Bosso calls for security upgrades

Raymond Jaravaza A�
HIGHLANDERS, at the back of a $22 000 loss in fines as a result of acts of hooliganism by its supporters, wants the Premier Soccer League to use the money paid by clubs in fines to be used to purchase equipment that will used to monitor and identify perpetrators of violence in stadia across the country.

During the 2016 Premiership season Highlanders were slapped with numerous fines for the unruly behaviour of its fans ranging from missile throwing, pitch invasions and violence against police officers especially at Barbourfields Stadium.

Now the Bosso executive wants cameras and television monitors installed in stadiums to weed out violent characters from Barbourfields Stadium. The club is hoping video evidence captured by the monitors will be used to prosecute unruly supporters and in the process deter would-be perpetrators of violence.

And the money used to purchase the cameras and television monitors should come from the revenue collected by PSL in fines imposed on clubs whose supporters are found on wrong side of the rules and regulations governing local football.

The proposal was tabled at the cluba��s Annual General Meeting that was held last weekend.

a�?Time and again the executive, past and present, have lamented the effects of hooliganism and pitch invasions but some of our supporters have not taken heed. The club was fined a total of $21 925 in the year under review. The time has come that we deal with the perpetrators once and for all.

a�?We propose that Premier Soccer League fines be used to purchase security equipment that would make it easier to identify the culprits. It is sad to realise that only clubs are the ones who suffer the brunt of paying fines and yet they are not the only beneficiaries income from gate takings,a�? wrote club acting chairman Modern Ngwenya.

Missile throwing fans have in most cases gone unpunished as it has proven difficult to identify and arrest them among the thousands of supporters that throng Barbourfields Stadium especially during high profile matches were tempers easily flare.

An offside call by a match official can easily turn Barbourfields Stadium into a battlefield pitting supporters and the police. .