BB, Nomads implicated in fracas
The fracas that led to the abandonment of Friday’s Carlsberg Cup quarter-final tie between Evirom and Red Lions at KamuzuStadium, took a new twist yesterday. The Zomba-based outfit said it suspected ganyu fans, in particular those associated with Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers, to have caused the violence out of frustration.
The fracas could be an alarming confirmation that tension between military and civilian teams may be getting out of hand.
The match, which lasted 70 minutes, was suspended when the ugly face of violence once again reared its head as suspected soldiers and ganyu fans were engaged in running battles that erupted into full-scale skirmishes. The teams tied 1-1.
Lions chairperson Captain Martin Mlowoka, general secretary Jones Gondwe and coach Mike Ku
Said Mlowoka in an interview with Nation on Sunday: “The assumption is that Wanderers and Bullets fans were involved because one could easily tell from their colours and location.
“Evirom is a small team which does not have a huge fan base, but what happened was very unfortunate because there is nothing that people gain from being violent.”
He also said they are hoping that the match will be replayed since none of the two teams caused the abandonment.
Gondwe and Kumanga went a step further by telling the media soon after the game that ganyu fans were behind the violence because their teams were booted out of the showcase.
Kumanga said: “Other teams are becoming increasingly jealous of MDF [Malawi Defence Force] teams because they are doing well. Teams such as Bullets and Wanderers were booted out of the Carlsberg Cup and out of frustration, they are resorting to violence.”
He also said it was unfortunate that such an exhilarating contest had to end abruptly due to violence.
But Wanderers general secretary David Kanyenda and his Bullets counterpart Higger Mkandawire
Said Kanyenda: “That’s all rubbish. We were not playing yesterday [Friday]. How come we did not cause violence when we lost to them [Lions] in Zomba?
“What we know is that the match was between Red Lions and Evirom. We are not answerable for what happened at the match.”
On his part, Mkandawire said: “Why should they implicate us when our team was not playing at the stadium? It doesn’t make sense, does it?”
However, Evirom coach Mario Gadaga claimed that the match should be awarded to them since Lions refused to continue playing after the situation had calmed down.
“Match officials called us to continue with the game since the rules stipulate that the winner is supposed to be determined on the same day, but it was Red Lions who refused to continue and, therefore, in all fairness, FAM should consider such factors when determining the way forward,” said Gadaga.
But Mlowoka said considering security fears, the match could not have proceeded.
Kamuzu Stadium manager Charles Mhango blamed a soldier for provoking the situation.
“From my perspective, hell broke loose when a soldier attacked a fan at the stand and, thereafter, other soldiers joined him and they started beating people at random,” said Mhango.
The soldiers were annoyed further when alleged ganyu fans broke into mockery chant: [Alonda olanditsa nyanja!] insinuating that MDF is concentrating on football instead of focusing on the Lake Malawi dispute.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) competitions officer Gomezgani Zakazaka
“We are still waiting for reports from the match officials and, thereafter, the organising committee will determine the way forward.
“However, we condemn the acts of violence in the strongest terms and necessary action will be taken on the perpetrators,” saidZakazaka.
Lions took the lead in the 59th minute when Pearson Mphonje beautifully headed home Kumbukani Mwambeni’s
