Mucherahowa denounces violence…Speaks strongly against hate language

DYNAMOS FC legend Memory Mucherahowa has condemned tribal remarks made by his former team’s supporters as condemnation of what transpired at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday continues.

The match between home side Dynamos and Highlanders FC was abandoned after 38 minutes. This was after fans on the Soweto Stand threw missiles onto the pitch protesting what they alleged was poor and biased officiating by referee of the day Allen Bhasvi.

Play was stopped for over 30 minutes before Bhasvi and match commissioner Nelson Kusosa decided to call off the contest.

After missiles rained on the pitch, the fans from the Soweto Stand then decided to invade the pitch threatening to overrun the police cover that was at the stadium.

As chaos continued Dynamos and Highlanders FC fans fought on the pitch with some going further to attack those that had stayed put on the Mpilo End.

As prescribed in the PSL rules and regulations, both clubs have fines waiting for them for pitch invasion.

Fans from either team then fought on the pitch with police having a tough time in restoring order.

It was only after some time that the place had a semblance of order but outside there were violent scenes which forced police to use tear smoke.

A number of fans from either side were hurt in the fights on the pitch and Northern Stand.

Four police officers were injured in the skirmishes.

Former Dynamos captain Mucherahowa joined the fray in denouncing violence saying tribal remarks have no room in the game.

He said in his time Dynamos had Ndebele players.

“Iyi Dembare haidiwe iyi, inga kuDynamos kwacho vaiveko vakaita sana Lucky Dube, Bheki Mlotshwa, Lovemore Ncube, Christian Ncube. Ndapota hangu musadaro,” (Such songs are unwanted. Some Ndebele players have played for Dynamos before. Please stop that) he was quoted by zwnews.co.zw.

Fans from both teams are known to sing songs that create ill-feeling towards each other bordering on tribalism yet sport is a unifier.

At the height of turn around or formation of both clubs, there were people of different ethnic groups who played for the two great sides.

In the 1960s there was a pact that a player moving from Harare or Bulawayo plays for the other but generations of administrators and fans have obliterated that.