Father asks Red Lions to cheer his son still in comma after Malawi football violence

Father to a soccer fan who was assaulted by suspected soldiers of Red Lions football club during their 2-2 match against Surestream has asked the Zomba-based soldiers to visit his 24-year old son Godfrey Mwale, who still lies in a coma at Queens Elizabeth Central Hospital for two weeks after being attacked by suspected solders.

The father, a police officer Senior Superintendent Stanley Mwale, says he is still baffled at what happen to his son, who was beaten up by three suspected soldiers as he was waiting for a mini bus to pick him up at the bus stage.

“It is unfortunate that up to now no any Red Lions official has come to see my son. I could have loved if they come to see for themselves how my son is battling for his life,” he said, tears rolling on his cheek.

“I want justice to prevail on anybody who took part in beating my son.

“ I raised my son in God fearing way. He does not drink or smoke. He is a quite boy who never gets into trouble and l never expected this to happen to him. Nobody is above the law. I want justice to prevail,” he said.

Mwale was reported to be beaten up with iron bars and a brain MRI scan shows that among several injuries, he has acute hematoma caused by trauma to the head and also brain swelling.

Last Sunday, Minister of Sports Grace Chiumia visited the boy and she was shocked on his condition.

She described the incident that happened after the match as barbaric.

Super League of Malawi (Sulom) slapped Red Lions with a total of K3.6 million in fines for the club, eight players involved in assaulting referee Boniface Chipinga and their team doctor Gibson Langwe who was also involved in the fracas.

The eight players Lot Chawinga, Dickson Mbetewa Jr who were in the forefront have been suspended for 12 months not to play any game organised by Sulom.

Six other players  Boniface Kaulesi, William Chiumia, Mathews Simbeye, George Haule, Thomas Makaombwa and Sunganani Msiska have been banned from playing for six months.

But Mwale said the punishment is manifestly inadequate.

“ My son is in a coma and all they get is game ban for players and fine? My son will never be the same again,” he said.

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