Some Mafco FC players risk being punished by Super League of Malawi (Sulom) for injuring an FCB Nyasa Bullets player Wongani Lungu, whom they roughed up during their TNM Super League match at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Sunday.
The People’s Team has since filed a complaint to the league runners who have since condemned the inident.
A video clip that went viral on social media on Sunday shows trio of Blessings Chandiyang’ana, Duncan Mwale and Vitumbiko Phiri stomping on Lungu as he lay in agony on the pitch in the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) side’s 18-yard box following a foul.
Mafco players then repeatedly stomped on him in full view of referee Kasimu Shainu Amadu who only cautioned goalkeeper Christopher Mikuwa for the initial foul.
Bullets acting chief executive officer Albert ChIgoga confirmed in an interview having officially complained to Sulom about the incident.
He said: “This is inhumane. It paints a bad image of our football to the outside world. Football is televised and streamlined live these days. This is disgusting.
“We are hoping that Sulom will act with speed to punish Mafco players for displaying nasty behaviour.”
Sulom vice-general secretary Donnex Chilonga condemned the incident in an interview with Zodiak Broadcasting Station.
He was quoted as having said: “We have seen the video clip that is circulating on social media, the incident is a shame for our football.
“It’s unfortunate and unacceptable, we will establish what happened and then map the way forward.”
Mafco have since apologised for the incident through a media statement released yesterday.
“Mafco wishes to condemn in the strongest terms the conduct of its players Blessings Chandiyang’ana, Duncan Mwale and Vitumbiko Phiri for unsportsman conduct on Wongani Lungu.
“The bevaviour displayed by these players is unacceptable and not representative of the sportsmanship and respect that Mafco FC values. Such unsportsmanship has no place in any modern game of football.
“Mafco FC take full responsibility of the players’ actions and will take disciplinary action within the confines of applicable rules and regulations.”
The team’s captain Paul Ndlovu also apologised for the incident.
He said: “The incident happened in the heat of the moment, I do not want to believe that it was their intention.
“We are sorry to the Bullets family and Wongani Lungu in particular. As captain, I really feel it was bad. Being a leader in the field of play, I was supposed to control my players’ tempers.”
However, football analyst Patrick Zgambo said Sulom needs not wait for a report from the referee “who ignored the incident before taking action”.
He said: “What is even more worrying is the conduct of the referee during the incident when he was right at the crime scene.
“He is a lousy match official. Like most have reacted, there is no place for this in football. Not from players, officials or anyone.
“Authorities must be swift and brave, especially that the evidence is this bad and not wait for seven days for something this embarrassing that is on national television.”
Bullets won the match 1-0 through a Maxwell Gastin Phodo 15th minute goal.
