Online Reporter
Moffat Mungazi
Sports Reporter
WITH scores of fans expected to swarm Sakubva Stadium for the potentially explosive encounter between Manica Diamonds and Dynamos on Sunday, calls for responsible behaviour among the supporters have been echoing throughout the week.
The last time Manica Diamonds were at home and Dynamos were away, matters came to a head that attracted attention and generated several talking points.
For the Gem Boys, their previous match at Sakubva Stadium against Highlanders was marred by chaos at entry points owing to poor management of the turnstiles, with long and winding queues outside denying some fans the opportunity to watch first half action. And for the Glamour Boys, all hell broke loose when violence erupted during their clash at Hardrock in Kwekwe, forcing the abandonment of the match. Against this backdrop, conversations around mature conduct among fans, crowd control measures, tight security and due diligence naturally dominated the football narrative in Manicaland this week.
Interestingly, the voice of reason is coming from the terraces where supporters are domiciled.
They are calling each other to order, and are unanimous in their loud calls denouncing hooliganism, violence and vandalism at stadia.
Manica Diamonds super fan, Frank “Mahumba-Mahumba” Makombe, said supporters must be exemplary and prove why football is regarded as the most beautiful game in the world.
“As the home team, this is one of our biggest fixtures of the season. As such, we have to ensure that we give a good account of ourselves by manning the gates professionally and smoothly. The match also has to be played without incident inside and outside the stadium. We must act responsibly and be respectful to each other.
“Mutare and Manicaland at large is renowned for warm heartedness and this must also prevail at Sakubva Stadium. Everyone with the best interests of football at heart must ensure that there is order and sanity throughout the match’s entire duration. Hooliganism and violence have no place in our beautiful game as this gives a very bad picture. This is a shared concern and collective responsibility,” said Makombe, one of the team’s foremost cheerleaders.
Rivalries must only play out on the pitch and never among the fans in the stands, he added.
“We are not enemies, but one family as football fans and our respective teams’ rivalry must not spill onto the terraces. Any action that brings the game into disrepute is both regrettable and retrogressive. Yes, football is a highly emotional game, but supporters must never provoke each other. In fact, the game brings us together as it is a great unifier that transcends any boundaries across the world. We must, therefore, speak the same language of denouncing hooliganism and violence at football stadia,” he emphasised. Makombe called on fellow fans to embrace a culture of paying up for their entrance into stadia.
This, he said, helps to prevent congestion at the entry points and causing unnecessary commotion at the turnstiles. Another supporter, Mariana “Sister Jumbo” Kondiwa, echoed similar sentiments. She said stadia must not be hard-hat areas as families must be able to watch and enjoy football in a conducive environment.
“Football is a beautiful game even suitable for family enjoyment, and the sportsmanship must also extend to the terraces even among rival fans. Most of my weekend outings are at soccer matches, and bringing along my family, friends and relatives needs to have our safety and security guaranteed as we sing and dance to the rhythm of the game. Despite whatever match result – win, draw or loss – we must be able to embrace each other and shake hands after every game and look forward to another fixture,” said the perky Kondiwa.
Staunch Dynamos supporter, Munyaradzi Zinomwe, is also singing from the same hymn book.
He said this is likely to be a huge fixture, and as such must be handled in an orderly manner.
“My first plea is to the Premier Soccer League and home team, Manica Diamonds to open as many gates as they possibly can for easy passage of fans into the stadium. We hope that valuable lessons were learnt after the chaos that rocked the venue before kick-off of the Highlanders match when some fans were still stranded in long queues outside even at almost halftime,” said Zinomwe.
He added that with a huge turnout expected, security must be a top priority.
“With Dynamos being the biggest crowd puller wherever they go in Zimbabwe, security should be tightened to the maximum level. Also, with their recent resurgence in form this season, more supporters are coming back in their numbers to follow Chazunguza. In order to ease pressure, the presale of tickets needs to be availed days before the match day,” he said, reiterating that football must always be the ultimate winner.
“To my fellow supporters, let us desist from violence and hooliganism as this is not good for our game. We must make Sakubva Stadium a safe place for all to enjoy the beautiful game. No to violence, please. May the best team on the day win. Football must be the winner because it is what brings us together,” said Zinomwe.
Popular Mutare football fan, Melanie Masunungure, said the price of hooliganism in football is too costly to pay.
“Stakeholders are left counting the losses every time violence erupts during football matches. Besides the physical and psychological harm some people may suffer when hooliganism breaks out, it also costs clubs unnecessary expenses through fines and even suspensions. Another blemish is that the violence may result in stadia infrastructure being damaged or destroyed. The costs of repairs will eat into the clubs’ pockets, most of whom are financially struggling,” she said.
