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Kenny Ndebele

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
The Premier Soccer League are worried by the increasing cases of hooliganism which have hogged the limelight in the last month and have urged clubs to put in place mechanisms to ensure that football remains a family sport.In apparent reference to the violence that rocked the CAPS United match against How Mine and the one between Highlanders and ZPC Kariba, PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele said the league was concerned with the unfortunate trend.

Ndebele told The Herald that individual clubs have a big role to play in speaking out against violence as the situation is getting out of hand while the leadership are folding their hands.

Highlanders and Dynamos have so far attracted US$4 000 each in fines related to violence by supporters in a schedule released by the league this week.

The Bulawayo giants are certain to get another fine following last week’s disturbances at Hartsfield when they lost 3-1 to ZPC Kariba in a league match. The supporters reduced the stadium and its environs into a war zone hurling stones at their own players, the visiting team and baying for coach Kelvin Kaindu’s head.

Already Bosso have been fined $2 000 for pitch invasion and missile-throwing during their match against How Mine on June 6 and another $2 000 for throwing missiles during their match against Dynamos at Barbourfields Stadium.

Dynamos were found guilty of missile throwing by their supporters in the Chibuku Super Cup quarterfinal defeat to Black Rhinos.

DeMbare last year lost about $65 000 for various offences.

Makepekepe are soon to know their fate following the post-match tumoil at Rufaro when the supporters staged running battles with the police while threatening to assault coach Taurai Mangwiro.

Ndebele said the league will continue fighting indiscipline.

“The biggest problem that we have seen of late is violence at the stadia. One day you hear of clashes between supporters of two rival teams, the next it’s the supporters against their own players or supporters chasing their own coach.

“In my opinion, the success of the club doesn’t depend on the coach alone. It’s a result of team work from the top leadership, the players themselves, the coaches and even the supporters. So attacking the coach sometimes is not the solution. Hooliganism should not be found at our football matches. Besides driving away the sponsors, it creates a sense of insecurity to the players, the coaches and even to some of the genuine football supporters.

“As a result it also kills the aspect of football being a family sport and in the end it reduces the attendances. We used to have average figures of around 25 000 in matches between Highlanders and Dynamos not so long ago but these days we struggle to get 15 000.

“Club leadership should take the lead in calling for an end to violence and I am sure their followers will listen. The same leaders are the ones who are very vocal when calling for fans to fill the stadium. Their voice is heeded then and people come in droves but now when we have a problem there is silence. I am also yet to hear reports of any arrests that have been done.

“Some clubs have been fined as a way to deter such behaviour and the same leaders complain that the fines are too much,” said Ndebele.

Besides the big three, clubs that have been fined also include Black Rhinos, Chiredzi, Shabanie Mine, Chapungu, Hwange, Bantu Rovers, Buffaloes, ZPC Kariba, Harare City, How Mine and Chicken Inn.

Clubs were penalised for failure to provide properly cleaned dressing rooms, delaying kick-off, failure to provide team sheets on time, use of undesignated entry points, failure to produce licenses, use of kits without names of players or sponsors’ logo as per Fifa standards, failure to submit ballot papers for monthly awards, pitch invasion and missile throwing by fans.