adminMidlands Reporter
FC Platinum defender Ian Nekati flew into a rage and bashed his defenceless wife for simply asking him why he had left her without money for food.
The player signed last season from Zifa Northern Region Division One outfit, Twalumba FC, was brought before the courts to answer to a charge of assaulting his teenage wife, Rosewittaer Chisenga, 19.
Nekati, 24, of Lot Number 4, Highlands, Zvishavane appeared before Zvishavane magistrate Peter Madiba yesterday.
Nekati, a regular bench warmer at the Zvishavane-based soccer outfit, was convicted on his own plea of guilty to assault and sentenced to 45 days in prison.
Prosecuting, Stanley Ncube told the court that on Sunday evening, Nekati who was coming from a pre-season friendly match with Highlanders in Bulawayo, got into a physical fight with his wife, Chisenga.
The fight erupted after Chisenga confronted Nekati why he did not leave money to buy food.
The defender descended on his wife with a flurry of punches and she later filed a police report leading to his arrest.
Asked by magistrate Madiba why he assaulted his wife, Nekati lightly dismissed the issue as “a minor misunderstanding”.
“Your worship, this is just a minor misunderstanding I had with my wife,” he said.
However, Chisenga told the court that it was the third time she had suffered abuse at the hands of her husband.
Chisenga said: “This is not the first time I have suffered abuse at the hands of Nekati. In our two-year marriage, I have been beaten up three times.”
Madiba chided Nekati on his violent disposition and failure to act as a role model to the youngsters and his fans.
“As a footballer and role model, you should lead by example and do away with your violent nature as many will be looking up to you for inspiration,” said Madiba.
Online Reporter