Big Bullets haunted by attack on Karonga United
Super League giants, Nyasa Big Bullets, continue to feel guilty over their supporters’ violent conduct during a recent Fisd Challenge Cup match against Karonga United at Chilomoni Stadium in Blantyre.
Bullets want to “make peace” with the Simama Premier Division side (Karonga).
During the round-of-16 match, some Bullets fans harassed Karonga officials, suspecting that they were remote-controlling the game with juju.
Hell broke loose when Karonga striker Anthony Mfune fired into the net two quick goals to shock the hosts.
Karonga officials, including Team Manager, Abraham Mwakhwawa, were manhandled by irate Bullets supporters’ in their quest to neutralise the suspected charms.
To the supporters’ wish, Bullets made a remarkable comeback—winning the tie 4-2 and progress to the quarter-finals.
Since then, the two teams have not been in good terms.
Football Association of Malawi banned 10 Bullets fans, including Supporters Committee Vice-Chairperson, Bruno Gama, from any football activity for five years.
Recently, Karonga community radio station, Tuntufye FM, reported that some Karonga fans were harassing those putting on Bullets’ replica jerseys in the district.
Bullets interim General Secretary, Albert Chigoga, confirmed to have received such reports from Karonga.
“Football is about friendship, togetherness and entertainment. What happened on that day [at Chilomoni Stadium] and in recent times, is far from these three pillars of soccer. So, as a team, we feel that the best way is go to Karonga and play them [Karonga United] at Karonga Stadium.
“So, it will be part of the sensitisation… to tell people in the district and all Malawians that Nyasa Big Bullets is zero-tolerant to violence. We believe [that] it will be a perfect moment and we are looking forward to it. Nonetheless, we are yet to make an official communication to them [Karonga],” Chigoga said.
Karonga chairperson, Alufeyo Chipanga, applauded Bullets for the idea, but warned them to treat the matter cautiously.
“They just have to make a proper arrangement because people here [in Karonga] are still angry. I feel [that playing] in Karonga can make matters even worse than what happened in Blantyre.
“So, it means [that] as a team, we have to sit down with our people here and tell them about this arrangement, otherwise they cannot get out of this district alive,” Chipanga said.
He said some Karonga fans attacked a parent of a Bullets’ player [name withheld], who is alleged to have triggered the attacks at Chilomoni Stadium by insinuating that the visitors had carried juju.
Mwakhwawa declined to comment much on the matter, but admitted that the situation in the district is “far from being calm.”
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