Bullets, Silver meet over violence
Following the violence that erupted on Sunday at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, FCB Nyasa Bullets and Silver Strikers management yesterday held a reconciliation meeting in Lilongwe.
The meeting at Silver secretariat was meant to reach an agreement and come up with mechanism to avoid violence repeating itself in future.
Silver Strikers Company Limited chief executive officer Patrick Chimimba has since commended Bullets management for the apology and taking the initiative to find a lasting peace solution.
“We commend the gesture that Bullets have shown by reaching out to us and also issuing an apology. Bullets have also promised to repair the damage done to our bus and also replenish lost items during the violence. We also had meetings between the supporters of the two teams where we reconciled. We want to make football venues a safe place for everyone.”
Chimimba said that the two teams have over the years partnered to build their brands.
“We need to protect our brands and also our sponsors. It is not easy to build a brand and win corporate support. It takes a long time but one incident of violence can ruin all that,” said Chimimba.
Bullets chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda has since owned up the blame on the hooliganism in Blantyre.
He said: “The board and management of FCB Nyasa Big Bullets does not want to be associated with violence and made a proactive step to reach out to Silver Strikers and apologise. We own the blame that it is our supporters that caused the violence. We will replenish lost items and also repair the bus.
Our supporters should accept that Bullets cannot always be winning games. Let’s protect the venues and also the supporters.”
Nyirenda said the two teams’ supporters will work together and form a task force.
“Beyond the usual security provided by the police supporters of the two teams will also form a joint security team during matches involving the two clubs to ensure there’s no room for violence,” he said.
Head of Bullets supporters Stone Mwamadi and his Silver counterpart King Malaya also pledged to work together.
Malaya thanked Bullets for the peace gesture.
“During the game in Blantyre, they confiscated our music equipment and flags. They have promised to return the items. That’s the way to go,” he said.
Bullets fans went on the rampage after Silver scored a last-gasp winner. The supporters damaged Silver team bus and deflated Bullets bus tyres as well. The match ended 1-0.
