Maduka slams xenophobic attacks
Former Flames captain John Maduka has described the attacks on foreigners in South Africa as an act of ignorance, adding that footballers have so far been spared.
In a telephone interview yesterday, the Bloemfontein Celtic team manager said such xenophobic attacks are not a nationwide phenomenon.
“Those things happen in townships and it is in a few areas. Such acts are perpetrated by people without knowledge. In every country, including in Malawi, there are foreigners. You cannot be chasing them away. It is being ignorant,” said the former Flames captain.
Platinum Stars midfielder Robert Ng’ambi yesterday also echoed Maduka’s position, saying such attacks have not spread to his area of Rustenburg.
South Africa is home to 10 coaches and footballers from Malawi such as Robert Ng’ambi (Platinum Stars), Robin Ngalande (Ajax Cape Town), Atusaye Nyondo (University of Pretoria FC), Esau Kanyenda (Polokwane City), Frank Gabadinho Mhango and Limbikani Mzava (Celtic), Harry Nyirenda (Black Leopards), Patrick Falawo (FC Blackpool), Patrick Mabedi (Moroka Swallows) and Kinnah Phiri (Free State Stars).
FAM was not ready to comment as we went to press yesterday.
The attacks on foreigners have left some 400 Malawians stranded.
Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture Kondwani Nankhumwa told The Nation edition of Monday that most Malawians have lost property due to the xenophobic attacks.
“The figure has been rising because the situation is really tense. As of this morning [Sunday], about 360 Malawians were stranded. They have lost everything they had in possession, including their travel documents,” Nankhumwa said.
The attacks are common in cities such as Durban where King Goodwin Zwelithini at the end of March reportedly said all foreigners be dispatched back home because they were depriving South Africans of better living conditions.
