4 fans netted over fracas
Four players and a fan for Mpokonyola Green Eagles in Chikwawa District have been arrested for allegedly inciting violence and injuring their rival Mpokonyola Young Strikers’ assistant coach, Masauso Kamiza.
Chikwawa Police spokesperson, Foster Benjamin, on Thursday said Kalonga
Luwani, Bendro Skova, Samson Duncan, Maloya Luwani and Sinalesi Mkamwa were arrested in the wee hours of Wednesday.
He said the arrest follows a long running wrangle between the two camps over the usage of a football pitch for training.
“It is said that the two sides were once a single team before one camp, Mpokonyola Young Strikers, formed their own team.
“The new team, which reportedly took on board rejects from their rivals, was assigned to train twice a week—on Mondays and Tuesdays, “Benjamin said.
He said hell broke loose when Eagles players invaded the pitch, assaulting Young Strikers’ players and their official, a Mr Kalumbi.
Benjamin said Traditional Authority Kalunga tried to bring peace between the two teams, but the ugly scenes reared their head again on January 8 when Young
Strikers resumed training.
According to Benjamin, Eagles fan, Mkamwa, allegedly stormed the ground while inciting violence.
He was joined by the four players, who beat up Young Strikers’ players and Kamiza.
“Police have since been pushing the matter until Wednesday when the five got arrested. They will appear in court within this week to answer charges of inciting violence and common assault contrary to Sections 86 and 253 of the Penal Code respectively,” he said.
Violence is common in local football especially in TNM Super League due to poor crowd-control and weak monitoring mechanisms.
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