BARBOURFIELDS Stadium in Bulawayo on Saturday resembled a war zone after Highlanders Football Club and Dynamos Football Club supporters engaged in running battles after the two teams clashed in a Premier Soccer League (PSL) match.
The lawlessness began during the match after Dynamos took the lead against Highlanders.
Dynamos players started employing delaying tactics in front of the so-called Soweto stand that is usually dominated by Highlanders supporters.
Without condoning the throwing of missiles onto the field of play, the behaviour of the Dynamos players, especially Murape Murape and Rodrick Mutuma, was despicable.
It was clearly their intention to provoke the situation by feigning injuries repeatedly in front of the Highlanders supporters and making certain gestures.
There are reports that a Highlanders fan was killed outside the stadium by suspected Dynamos supporters.
Skirmishes outside the stadium also resulted in the destruction of property as stone-throwing hooligans targeted vehicles, smashing windows.
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Police used teargas and water cannons to disperse the crowd and they should be commended for deploying adequately at Barbourfields Stadium. Highlanders will pay dearly for the crowd trouble, which was a bad advertisement for local football as the match was beamed live on SuperSport.
The Bosso fans seem to have learnt nothing from last season where the team had to forfeit most of its prize money to pay fines for violence at its matches. Fans should be educated that violence only serves to retard the development of the team and results in the unnecessary loss of life as was the case on Saturday.
Football matches must remain a family affair where soccer lovers have no qualms taking children to watch their heroes.
Highlanders have to invest in means to control crowds at its matches and keeping hooligans away from Barbourfields.
The PSL also needs to deal firmly with unruly players who deliberately provoke violence at matches, to protect the image of sponsors.
Picture by Benson Dube
