adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Premier Soccer League has expressed concern over what it described as anarchy of unacceptable levels the invasion of Barbourfields Stadium by football fans every time rains pound the venue.Invoking the now-famous First Lady Grace Mugabe’s catch phrase, the league said fans should, “Stop it!”
Spectators from the three stands, Soweto, Empankweni and Mpilo have on three occasions now caused mayhem during Highlanders’ matches whenever it rains by crossing over to the VIP stand, a majority through the pitch and in the process endangering the security of players and officials.
The “crossover madness” started during Bosso’s pre-season friendly against Bulawayo City Football Club, and continued when Bosso played Caps United in the Bob91 Super Cup elimination match and last week against Tsholotsho in a Premiership match.
Amahlolanyama take on Hwange at the same venue this afternoon.
A seething Castle Lager Premier Soccer League chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele said the trend was quite worrisome and a huge embarrassment to the brand PSL, bankrolled by giant beverages manufactures, Delta Beverages through their Castle Lager brand.
“It’s worrying big time. This is clear anarchy of unacceptable levels and it must stop forthwith. Our league cannot be a place of lawlessness where people do as they please. This is really a national embarrassment of unimaginable proportions,” said a fuming Ndebele.
Without mentioning anyone or an institution by name, the seasoned administrator said as a league they would have expected authorities to speak out loud and clear against the behaviour of fans.
Ndebele said Barbourfields Stadium has a state of the art public address system meant for such eventualities but somehow it was never used.
He said even after the fans had crossed over, authorities could still have seized the opportunity and used the public address system urging fans to desist from such ills in future.
“It’s a pity really that no one has come out condemning this and it now sounds like normal business. It’s now ‘speak no evil and hear no evil’. I know for certain that those people won’t be having hooligan intentions because they will be running away from the rains but it’s still wrong to do that because someone can get in there with a bottle and break it on the pitch, endangering the safety of players and officials,” said Ndebele.
He said he was also concerned about the security apparatus at the stadium as they seemed incapable of handling the situation as it unfolded right in front of them.
“We have been told that they were 90 police details, we also have clubs’ marshals and officers from a private security firm. Those people did not use force but they simply opened the gates and walked right through, surely that must stop forthwith. We were also concerned that the match commissioner of the day decided to let the match begin without proper security measures being taken,” said Ndebele.
He said football fans should know that the field was a no-go area.
Despite having only 225 people paying their way into the VIP area last Sunday, there was hardly any space to sit there as it was full to capacity as a result of the “crossover” by fans from the $3 stands. A VIP ticket costs $10.
Online Reporter