FCB Nyasa Bullets have condemned the acts of violence and hooliganism that led to their team bus being smashed after their TNM Super League match against Karonga United at Kamuzu Stadium on Sunday.
Suspected irate Bullets fans stoned and deflated the team’s bus after the People’s Team gave away a 3-1 lead to draw.
The club’s acting chief executive officer Albert Chigoga said in an interview yesterday that they expect to spend a fortune on bus repairs.
The People’s Team also risks a hefty fine from Super League of Malawi (Sulom) for the violent acts.
Chigoga described the supporters conduct as “disturbing”.
He said: “We did not expect them to express their grievances in the manner they did. It is very unfortunate.”
On the next course of action, Chigoga said: “We plan to engage the leadership of our supporters and the law enforcers to help us investigate the incident and apprehend those who were involved in the act.”
He said six windows were smashed, including the windscreen.
Said Chigoga: “There are also other small damages on the panels. We will have a clear picture on the cost of the damages later in the day.
“But it should be a huge cost and the unfortunate part is that we have until Wednesday to have it fixed before the team’s trip to Chitipa [for the FDH Bank Cup round of 32 match against Chilumba Barracks].”
In a statement issued yesterday, the club said: “As a club built on values of sportsmanship, perseverance, professionalism and fair play, we unequivocally denounce such behaviour.
“Football must always be the winner, regardless of the result. There is no justification for damaging property or threatening players and team officials.
“These acts undermine the progress we have made in creating a safe and welcoming environment for all supporters and risk bringing the club, its sponsors and partners into disrepute.
“We extend our gratitude to the overwhelming majority of our supporters who continue to uphold the club’s values, protect its image and show overwhelming loyalty both on-and-off the pitch.”
The club’s national supporters committee chairperson Stone Mwamadi also hit out at the rowdy fans and vowed to track them down with the help of their zonal committees.
He said: “In a game of football, you expect three results—a win, a draw and a loss–and even if they had grievances with the coach’s fielding and players’ performance, they were not supposed to act that way.
“It was unacceptable and it cannot be tolarated. One thing they need to remember is that it was not easy to secure sponsorship for the team and sponsors as well as owners of the club do not like to be associated with acts of violence and hooliganism.”
Mwamadi partly blames security personnel, especially police and stewards, for failing to arrest the culprits.
He said: “In time of such unfortunate incidents, we depend on the poice and stewards to arrest culprits, unfortunately, they were nowhere to be seen. They did not help us.”
Meanwhile, in a statement issued yesterday, Sulom said it is investigating the violent behaviour of the alleged Bullets’ supporters.
Reads the statement: “Sulom further urges the leadership of FCB Nyasa Big Bullets to take appropriate remedial measures.
“The matter will, thereafter, be referred to the disciplinary committee for appropriate action.”
South-west police spokesperson Beatrice Mikuwa said she needed time to get more detains before commenting on the matter.
Last season, some Bullets fans also smashed their bus and Silver Strikers’ after losing 0-1 to the Bankers in a TNM Super League match.
Apart from paying K6 million for the cost of repairing Silver’s bus, Bullet were also fined K2.3 million by Sulom for the violent acts.
