It just doesn’t feel right to be thumping the computer keyboard week in, week out, on the same subject.
Final whistle with Simba Rushaya
But it becomes irresistible when your advice falls on deaf ears.
In one of our editions in February this year, we wrote a piece on violence in football, but unfortunately it keeps on recurring, especially in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), with the latest to be fined for skirmishes being log leaders Highlanders.
The Bulawayo giants were this week fined US$8 000 after their fans were said to have caused trouble at Maglas Stadium during a league match. They were found to have contravened Order 31.1.13.
Bosso fans are said to have reacted angrily after Knox Mutizwa was fouled and pelted the first assistant with stones and a steel coated pipe, while others took aim at the second assistant referee. Running battles ensued after the match.
Earlier in the year, the same Bosso fans were captured by a local daily newspaper’s photographer ghastly stamping on a helpless rival fan with their feet outside Barbourfields Stadium after the Bob89 match against Dynamos.
Highlanders had lost the match 2-1.
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It is sad that fans decide to take matters into their hands, jeopardising the lives of fellow football followers. The act is barbaric and does not have a place in modern football.
We should expect either of these three things to happen whenever a football match is played: a win, draw or loss. It is imperative that whenever soccer fans leave their homes, they carry to the match with them this mindset to avoid unnecessary emotions.
People must readily accept any result regardless of the fact that they are hurt. Football is supposed to be a family show. While hooliganism is rife the world over, our league must strive to be the best behaviourally.
Have we forgotten the fateful afternoon on July 9 2000, when the country lost 13 fans at the National Sports Stadium in Harare after violence erupted? Do we need a repeat of this?
It is high time that the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) and the PSL pay particular attention to this disturbing trend which put a dent on our league, let alone our country. The situation is made worse by the fact that some of the matches are now being captured on Supersport and are watched by the whole of Africa.
Hooligans must be ashamed of themselves.
Like we have pointed out before, football authorities must encourage fans to form anti-violence groups and ensure all the teams have access to such vital information.
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