Online Reporter
Tongai Mashonga in KWEKWE
WHAT should have been remembered as one of the biggest football occasions Kwekwe has staged ended with riot police on the pitch and supporters trading blows.
The ugly scenes forced the abandonment of this Castle Lager Premiership match.
For most of the afternoon, Chahwanda had delivered exactly what Zimbabwean football keeps asking for, packed stands, colour, noise and two teams giving supporters something worth paying for.
Then it all fell apart.
Trouble started around the 80th minute as supporters from both camps began throwing bottles and other objects at each other from the terraces behind the Dynamos goal.
The situation escalated quickly.
Cornered Dynamos supporters breached security and spilled onto the pitch, damaging banners and forcing players and officials into confusion.
Within moments violence had spread onto the field itself, with supporters exchanging punches as football gave way to chaos.
Riot police eventually restored order, but by then the damage had already been done. Match Commissioner Ruzive Ruzive later confirmed the match had been abandoned.
“The match has been abandoned,” he said.
The scenes brought an ugly end to what had started as one of the best atmospheres seen in the Midlands in recent memory.
Kick-off had already been delayed by 20 minutes to allow thousands of supporters still outside the stadium to enter as Chahwanda turned into a sea of blue and gold.
Before crowd trouble took over, the football had produced its own contest.
The opening exchanges were tight, with both sides struggling to create clear chances.
Hardrock tried to build through Junior Makunike, Munashe Bamara and Neliswa Dlamini while Dynamos stayed organised through Mandlenkosi Mlilo, Wisdom Mutasa and Shadreck Nyahwa.
Dynamos nearly handed Hardrock an early breakthrough when goalkeeper Finia Idrissou Nfor struggled to deal with Tinotenda Muringai’s free-kick, but the danger passed before the visitors responded with attacks from wide areas.
Abel Gwatidzo tested Tonderai Mateyaunga before Dynamos eventually found the breakthrough.
Leeroy Mavunga broke down the left and sent in a dangerous cross that Hardrock failed to clear, with Misheck Ngwenya turning the ball into his own net under pressure.
Dynamos looked comfortable after taking the lead and repeatedly threatened through Mavunga, Gwatidzo and Mutasa, while Isaac Landu produced a strong defensive display to keep Hardrock at bay.
The hosts returned for the second half with more urgency.
The introduction of Tinashe Mashaireni and Wilfred Madzungu lifted Hardrock and slowly shifted the momentum.
Dynamos absorbed sustained pressure before referee Magare Mhaka pointed to the spot after ruling that Nyahwa had handled inside the box.
Madzungu stepped up and calmly buried the penalty in the 68th minute to level matters at 1-1.
The equaliser lifted the noise inside Chahwanda.
Unfortunately, it also marked the beginning of the chaos.
Soon after Hardrock got back into the game, objects started flying from the terraces.
The football never returned.
Teams
Hardrock FC: Mateyaunga, Mucheto (Gavaza 27’), Muringai, Diro, Ngwenya, Bamara, Phiri (Mudadi 63’), Makunike (Mashaireni 45’), Simelane (Nyilenda 63’), Matinha (Madzungu 45’), Dlamini.
Dynamos FC: Nfor, Chapusha, Mutasa, Mavunga (Pio 82’), Mlilo (Shave 54’), Agyemang, Gwatidzo, Chikwende (Demera 82’), Nettey (Magwaza 54’), Landu, Nyahwa.
