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Mark Harrison

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
CAPS United coach Mark Harrison says football authorities should take action to curb hooliganism following last Sunday’s events at Barbourfields which marred the Green Machine’s elimination match victory over Highlanders.

The Englishman received a shock reception on his first visit to Barbourfields when crowd trouble spoiled an otherwise entertaining game against Highlanders.

Harrison feared for his players’ safety after the home supporters threw missiles on the pitch which led to a lengthy stoppage after goalkeeper Victor Twaliki was struck and in the process leading to Highlanders’ goal.

This was before a sizeable number of Makepekepe fans also acted in retaliation against Highlanders goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda. Harrison said violence should never be given room at football matches and perpetrators should be punished.

“It was really a good game of football and both teams were going for it and it’s sad that the supporters behaved that way. It’s an element that we don’t want to see at football matches. It’s something that needs to be addressed. It shouldn’t be happening at all,” said Harrison.

The CAPS United coach at one point called his players off the pitch as missiles rained while Makepekepe players were protesting Highlanders goal, which Obadiah Tarumbwa scored while the goalkeeper was down. Harrison said he feared for his players’ safety and had to talk to them to focus and finish the game.

“I told my players to get back onto the pitch and to get focused. In a way I think the Highlanders supporters gave us the strength to fight even harder because it seems the boys were toughened mentally,” said Harrison.

“In the end I thought we deserved to win. Highlanders were strong at the start but when we made that change after 30 minutes, bringing in Leonard Tsipa that’s when the game changed.

“It gave us the advantage and we were in control of the game in the second half. But as I said before, it’s still work in progress. We are still to get to the levels that we want.”

Makepekepe will now face Dynamos in the final on Sunday, hoping to continue with their rich vein of form. Newboy Rodreck Mutuma and rising player Takudzwa Mahori scored in the elimination match.

Meanwhile, CAPS United’s match against Big Bullets in the Zambezi Cup was moved to this afternoon. Makepekepe were scheduled to play the Malawian champions in Lilongwe yesterday but the game will now be played at Kamuzu Banda Stadium in Blantyre.

The Green Machine are being led by Brenna Msiska and Fungai “Tostao” Kwashi in Malawi while the other batch has remained home to play in the Bob 91 Super Cup under head coach Harrison and his namesake Mark Mathe.

The organisers had hoped to take advantage of the Martyrs holiday in Malawi to play the final, which was reduced to feature only two teams from four last year because of time constraints.

However, head of the organising committee Kelvin Moyo told the Malawian media that Bullets have asked for postponement since they have a charity work commitment.

“Bullets are having a charity work on March 3 as they will go to Chikwawa to visit some of the people affected by the floods. So it will be difficult for them to travel to Chikwawa on Tuesday and then Lilongwe for the game. They asked for the changes and the organising committee accepted them,” said Moyo.

CAPS United are the defending champions of the Zambezi Cup following a 1-0 win over Mighty Wanderers in last year’s final. They warmed up to the showdown with a 2-0 win over Silver Strikers on Sunday courtesy of a Gerald Phiri brace.