EDITORIAL COMMENT: Hooliganism has no place in football

THE violence which rocked Barbourfields Stadium in the aftermath of the football match between Highlanders and Dynamos on Saturday is regrettable and should spur authorities to make sure that it does not recur ever again.
A young Highlanders supporter was stabbed to death allegedly by Dynamos supporters as rival fans fought running battles with the police who were clearly overwhelmed by the scale of the chaos which ensued at the end of the game. Scores of vehicles were stoned and had their windows smashed by hooligans and despite the best of efforts by police on horse back and some with water canons and tear gas canisters, the hooligan element prevailed to blight a beautiful game of football displayed by the giants of Zimbabwean football.

It does not help matters that the biggest match on the Castle Lager Premiership calendar was being beamed to millions of viewers across the African continent who witnessed the ugly scenes at Emagumeni on SuperSport. It clearly was not an advertisement of Zimbabwean football and does not bode well for the future of the game.

We condemn both sets of supporters who were involved in the mayhem and call for sanity to prevail in future ties between the two teams. The rivalry between Highlanders and Dynamos is intense and the duels between the two sides are the stuff of legends but it is only a game of football and no life should be lost just because of the game.

Pictures splashed across the front and back pages of the Chronicle on Monday painted scenes reminiscent of war zones such as the Gaza Strip as the ugly face of hooliganism reared its head. It was sad to see grown men some of them family men exhibiting behaviour associated with excitable college and university students as they embarked on an orgy of violence. The chaos spilled into the adjacent suburbs of Mzilikazi, Barbourfields, Makokoba and Nguboyenja with innocent residents also caught up in the cross fire.

Football is a beautiful game and is supposed to unite not divide society and the violence on Saturday should be quickly nipped in the bud. The onus is on the football clubs to rein in their supporters and ensure that future matches between the two teams are played in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Fans should be reminded that their actions have dire consequences for their teams with the PSL expected to come down hard on both Highlanders and Dynamos for the behaviour of their fans. Hefty fines will be levied on the two teams for missile throwing by their fans.

Highlanders’ supporters were the biggest culprits as they played into Dynamos’ players’ antics of feigning injury by pelting them with bottles. This disrupted the rhythm of the game and probably cost their team. We also urge players to be responsible and exhibit the spirit of fair play by not inciting violence by play acting and feigning injury.

The behaviour of Dynamos senior players Murape Murape and Roderick Mutuma should be condemned by all football-loving people as they took play acting to another level. We also urge both sets of supporters to refrain from singing derogatory songs laced with tribal connotations as they stoke the flames of hatred and violence. Dynamos and Highlanders are community teams with huge followings and their supporters should behave in an exemplary manner. What happened on Saturday is an outrage that should be condemned by all right thinking Zimbabweans.

It is a sick joke and the animalistic behaviour of both sets of supporters’ calls for radical action to be taken by football authorities. We have the pictures of the hooligans and authorities can use these to ban them from stadia for life as is the case in other countries where hooliganism is frowned upon. We cannot have youngsters being scared of going to football matches because of the hooligan element.

Sponsors are also obviously watching the developments with a keen interest and might not want to be associated with such thuggery and savagery.

A young man Thembelenkosini Hloli, 23, from Sizinda suburb, has had his life cut short after being stabbed twice in the stomach near Renkini while running away from charging Dynamos fans. This is really sad.