adminLovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
ZIFA have condemned the violent behaviour exhibited by Dynamos and Highlanders supporters on Saturday which left one fan dead.
Thembinkosi Hloli of Sizinda was allegedly stabbed to death near Renkini Long Distance bus terminus by suspected Dynamos fans as violence spilled to the townships.
Dynamos won the incident filled match 1-0 at Barbourfields Stadium and Roderick Mutuma who scored the solitary goal, was the hero of the day.
Xolisani Gwesela, the Zifa spokesperson who attended the biggest fixture of the Zimbabwean football, condemned the violence.
“We have always said it that as the motherbody, we condemn violence in the strongest terms,” said Gwesela.
He said hooliganism had no place in football. He implored police, marshals and private security who are paid to deal with violent characters to come to the party.
“Hooligans have no place in our beautiful game and we implore law enforcement agents to be always on top of the situation in every match,” said Gwesela.
The Zifa spokesperson encouraged fans to embrace peace.
Barbourfields was turned into a war zone with fights spilling to the suburbs such as Makokoba,Nguboyenja as well as Renkini Long Distance bus terminus and city centre.
After a quiet morning which lacked the usual hype associated with both teams’ clashes in Bulawayo and Harare, the situation changed just before kick off.
A Dynamos fan who was evidently drunk, broke a circle which had Highlanders supporters cheering Palolo Mpofu showing off his ball juggling skills outside the Barbourfields shops.The fan drove his truck through the crowd and tried to bully the fans and was saved by his colleague who drove the vehicle to safety.
Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo of Gwanda was among those who saved the guy from mob justice.
Just before kick off, a midget jumped into the stadium and got some loud cheering from the Highlanders followers.
Missile throwing incidents started before the match with goalkeepers Ariel Sibanda and Munyaradzi Diya who were warming up with coach Peter Nkomo pelted with all sorts of objects.
Things were to worsen later in the game after Dynamos goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi appeared to feign injuries once Highlanders had an upper hand. This did not seem to go well with the home team’s supporters who felt he was behaving in the same way as George Chigova who was at Dynamos last year and Alex Chipukula of Triangle whose actions appeared to incite missile throwing last year.
Chipukula contributed to a 16-minute stoppage in the match won 1-0 by Highlanders.
On Saturday other than the goalkeeper, captain Murape Murape and Mutuma did not impress fans with their provoking actions.
On a number of occasions they appeared to feign injuries even pretending to have been hit with missiles when none had come close to them. Things got to a head when at some stage Mutuma was seen clearly inciting a walk out.
Referees seem to have no solution to unsportsmanlike behaviour which has seen a number of visiting clubs’ players inciting violence by their gestures and conduct.
Towards the end of the match on Saturday, both teams’ supporters started leaving the stadium only to engage in running battles outside.
Police had to use teargas and water cannons to disperse fans.
It is apparent that education on crowd control is still something they have to work on as fans in line with recommendations by Fifa are supposed to take to the field for safety.
Gwesela said Zifa condemns any behaviour that does not create a family atmosphere at stadia.
Highlanders have always insisted that they do not condone hooliganism.
Zimbabwean clubs seem not to have control over fans as a majority are not their members but someone who decides on match day to spend the afternoon with the crowd at a football match.
It is about time a solution was found to avoid loss of lives and property.
At some stage in the early stages of the match a Highlanders female fan on the Mpilo stand was on the receiving end after sitting there.
Some hooligans on the Soweto stand could be heard in chorus saying; “Siyabuya” meaning they were spoiling for a fight.
Highlanders supporter, Hloli’s body left Bulawayo yesterday for burial in Lower Gweru this morning.
Punitive measures like locking up perpetrators of violence, naming and shaming the culprits, should be introduced.
Dynamos’ Kenny Mubaiwa has been quoted as saying his club will not play Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium. He could not condemn violent behaviour by his own team’s supporters through song and missile throwing.
There have been cases when Bosso fans have been on the receiving end at Rufaro Stadium but Mubayiwa’s management has never condemned their supporters’ behaviour.
derick.khumalo