HIGHLANDERS Football Club midfielder Mthulisi Maphosa is on the run after reportedly going berserk on Saturday night assaulting patrons at Esibayeni in Matshobana suburb after a brawl with bouncers at a bar.
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Maphosa, who was not part of the team that beat Shabanie Mine 3-1 at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday, was involved in a scuffle with bouncers at the bar after they blocked him from entering wearing a hat.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo confirmed the incident saying they were keen on interviewing the footballer over the incident.
“I can confirm the incident and the police are looking for Maphosa in connection with a case of assault,” Moyo said. “We discourage people from resorting to violence when they have a misunderstanding.”
A witness told Southern Eye yesterday: “It was around 11pm and Maphosa was at Esibayeni along with his friends. He tried to get into the bar, but the bouncers told him that he needed to take off his hat first as they were not allowed.
“This did not go down well with Maphosa who tried to force his way into the bar resulting in a scuffle with the bouncers. Security guards from the main gate rushed in to quell the situation.
“They dragged him to the gate and in the fiasco, Maphosa grabbed a baton stick from one of the security guards and used it to assault them. The guards took to their heels and Maphosa went on the rampage hitting everyone in sight, including his friends who tried to calm him down.”
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As a result, one of the employees at the joint reportedly suffered a deep cut on the cheek after being hit by Maphosa. Another witness said the player was always a problem after taking a few drinks.
“He started drinking in the afternoon and was involved in a scuffle with another man. After the scuffle, he started hurling insults at every passer-by declaring he was itching for a fight that day,” the witness said.
“We had heard that he won’t be playing at Highlanders due to injury, but the way he was running, chasing after people with a baton, many were left wondering what injury he had suffered.”
Efforts to get a comment from Maphosa were fruitless as his mobile phone rang continuously without being answered.