A HIGHLANDERS Football Club supporter was on Saturday stabbed to death by suspected Dynamos Football Club fans soon after the two teams clashed in a tense match at Barbourfields Stadium.
LINDA CHINOBVA/ SILAS NKALA
Highlanders and Dynamos supporters were involved in running battles outside the stadium despite heavy police presence.
Thembelenkosi Hloli (24), popularly known as Thembinator, was killed at the Renkini long-distance bus terminus after he was allegedly chased down by Dynamos supporters driving a Toyota Noah.
His friend Wellington Samadilanja Gurajena said the Dynamos fans accused Hloli, who was among a group of Bosso fans fleeing anti-riot police, of stoning their car.
“Thembinator was murdered by DeMbare fans just outside Renkini after violence broke out,” he said.
“A white Toyota Noah and blue (Toyota) Gaia chased down Bosso fans allegedly for throwing stones at the Dynamos supporters.
“Four fans broke loose and Nkosiphile Lusinga of Mpopoma jumped over the R Chitrin security wall with a friend from Nyamandlovu.
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“But my friend Thembi unfortunately did not make it, leaving him at the mercy of the DeMbare fans who stabbed him to death.”
He said Hloli’s killers claimed he was killed by spikes on the security wall as he tried to jump over.
“They claimed he was pierced by spikes at the gate and that is not true,” Gurajena said.
“Even the security guard manning the gate said he never tried to climb the gate. To make matters worse there were no blood stains on the gate.
“I went to the scene shortly after it happened and found my friend stabbed with a knife. I say no to violence, no to hooliganism, no murder of innocent souls.”
Hloli’s brother Phineas said an unknown person sent him a message using the deceased’s phone informing him about his brother’s death.
“I got a WhatsApp message from my brother’s phone stating that he had been stabbed to death,” he said.
“I rushed to the scene and found my brother dead. I was told that my brother and his friend were being chased by a car all the way from the stadium up to the murder scene.
“I don’t understand why people would personalise soccer to the extent of claiming one’s life.”
Hloli’s father said he was struggling to come to terms with his son’s death, two days before the family was due to hold a get together.
“I still cannot believe that my son is no more,” he said.
“I have lost love for soccer because it has claimed my son’s life. What pains me the most is that we had organised a family gathering for the Heroes’ holiday, but now we are here mourning my son.”
Two suspects are reportedly in police custody while others are still on the run. Bulawayo police were not reachable for comment yesterday.
