Bullets ‘lose’ K6m

 FCB Nyasa Bullets have paid K6 million for the maintenance of Silver Strikers team bus which some of the People’s Team’s fans damaged after their TNM Super League match at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on June 2.

A day after the incident, Bullets accepted responsibility by offering to pay for the maintenance of the Bankers’ team bus which, among others, had its tyres slashed, windscreen and windows smashed and rear view mirrors vandalised.

Bullets also accepted two charges levelled by Super League of Malawi (Sulom), notably failing to control the actions of their supporters and bringing the league into disrepute, but the league runners are yet to come up with the verdict.

In an interview yesterday, Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga confirmed paying for the repairs.

He said: “That is true, we have indeed paid that amount for the repairs of the bus.”

Chigoga said the consequences should serve as a lesson to the “few wayward fans, who were responsible for the unfortunate acts of violence”.

He said: “The money we have paid Silver Strikers could have been used for the team’s operations had the supporters behaved responsibly. This must stop.”

Chigoga further said there is an ongoing investigation to track down the culprits.

“We are also engaging our fans to come up with ways of ending the unsporting behaviour, but the measures cannot be revealed at this stage,” he said.

On the other hand, Silver Strikers Company Limited chief executive officer Patrick Chimimba confirmed receipt of the money from Bullets.

“This is a commendable gesture and a great show of sportsmanship like no other,” he said.

In the midst of the ugly scenes, the Bullets team bus was not spared either as its tyres were deflated.

The incidents occurred soon after the Reserve Bank of Malawi-sponsored outfit scored their last-gasp winner through substitute Chinsisi Maonga at the dot of regulation time.

It was Bullets first defeat of the season and in their statement, the club condemned the acts of violence and welcomed Sulom’s decision to investigate the incidents and punish the perpetrators.

“We are also on the ground to find the perpetrators of thiese violent acts,” reads the statement in part.

The Super League champions further apologised to Silver and pledged to meet the costs of repairing their team bus.