Online Reporter
Robson Sharuko
Metros Editor
DYNAMOS’ leaders’ decision to show remorse, and accept responsibility for SIX of the EIGHT charges they faced, helped the Glamour Boys avoid the possibility of losing their abandoned league match against Hardrock.
In contrast, Hardrock’s representatives, especially CEO Kudzanai Hove, who was also charged in his individual capacity, were deemed by the PSL disciplinary committee as being arrogant during the hearing.
The two clubs were both fined US$10,000 and were ordered to play the remaining 14 minutes of their abandoned match, which was tied 1-1, at Baobab on Thursday.
Hove was suspended from all football activities for the rest of the year and was fined for pinning a Dynamos fan on the pitch using his foot.
It left the fan vulnerable to attacks from a mob of Hardrock fans, who had also invaded the pitch.
He was suspended by his club from his duties as the CEO following his arrest by the police in the wake of the mayhem.
“Dynamos were in a tight spot because the DC established that their fans were the first to invade the pitch and, even if they were fleeing from skirmishes in the stands, including missiles which were flying, there were other alternative spaces they could have fled to,” sources said.
“However, the issue of the smaller number of police officers, given the magnitude of the game, was also considered and the home team were found to be at fault here but this did not cause the abandonment of the match.
“Dynamos showed a lot of remorse and agreed that they were guilty of six of the eight charges against them and all these charges did not warrant a sanction which would have seen them being held culpable in the abandonment of the match and the subsequent loss of all three points.
“They contested the two serious charges, which would have led to the loss of all the three points, but even in the way they contested the charges, they were remorseful through the proceedings.
“The same cannot be said of Hardrock, there was an element of arrogance in the way they applied themselves and their case was also not helped by the arrogance of their CEO despite all the incriminating evidence against him.”
Referee Mhaka Magare’s report, in which he indicated that he was forced to abandon the match because the light had deteriorated and the game could not resume under the circumstances, also ensured that neither team could be held sorely responsible for the abandonment of the match.
“Once the referee indicated that he abandoned the game because it had got dark, after all the skirmishes, the DC could not lay the blame for the abandonment of the game firmly on the actions of either club,” the sources said.
The disciplinary committee also flagged the behaviour of former Dynamos coach Genesis Mangombe and his technical staff for blocking the match officials from retreating to their dressing rooms.
Meanwhile, Dynamo’s new Romanian coach Aristica “Double A” Acioba will not be on the bench when the Glamour Boys take on Hardrock in the final 14 minutes of that ill-fated match.
The PSL have set Thursday as the date of the match at Baobab in Ngezi but appeals from both sides might mean that it might not go ahead as planned without the judicial processes being exhausted.
The Romanian was not part of the original match and that means he can’t be involved in the replay. He enjoyed a flying start to his life as the DeMbare gaffer as the Glamour Boys crushed AGAMA 4-0 at Rufaro on Sunday.
It was a throwback to that afternoon at the same venue on March 20, 2011, when Lloyd Mutasa, in his first assignment as coach in the CAF Champions League, guided Dynamos to a 4-1 win over MC Alger of Algeria.
Denver Mukamba was the star of the show and he scored a wonder goal while Guthrie Zhokinyi, Farai Vimisai and Rodreck Mutuma were also on target for the Glamour Boys.
Then, just like now, DeMbare scored FOUR goals.
