Silver calls for inquiry into Balaka violence
Silver Strikers has called for thorough investigations on the violence at Balaka Stadium but blamed Mighty Wanderers supporters for instigating the clashes and police for escalating the skirmishes.
The game was abandoned in the 61st minute as the Bankers led 1-0 in a game which if they had won they would defend the TNM Super League title.
In a media statement issued on Monday, Silver general secretary Mike Tembo said it is the Nomads who are to blame for the violence.
Tembo said Wanderers supporters grabbed a Big Bullets scarf from a Bullets fan and later grabbed another Silver Strikers scarf from Rhoda Nkhata who was in accompany of Pilirani Mdeza when they were returning from rest rooms.
“ When Rhoda tried to get her scarf back from Wanderers supporters, she was severely beaten by Wanderers supporters and in the process she suffered severe head injuries and big cut on the forehead and had to be stitched by Silver Strikers team doctor right inside the Stadium,” said Tembo.
Tembo said because of the beating of Nkhata and burning of scarfs, and in defence of their number by Silver supporters, violence erupted between two teams leading to the natural separation of two opposing camps of supporters leaving no man’s land between the supporters as each camp occupied one side, each corner.
“As there was a gap between the supporters which could have given an opportunity to police or stewards to occupy the place, create a buffer zone and quell the situation once and for all, we were shocked to find police throwing teargas at supporters who then had to scamper for safety and the process damaging the Stadium’s inside fence and causing stampede that claimed one life and several injuries.”
Tembo said it “ very clear as to who started violence and who escalated the situation.”
Silver also said is deeply concerned with reports that sports journalists Chisomo Mwamadi of Malawi Broadcasting Corporation Radio and TV and Mike Bango of Zodiak Broadcasting Corporation Radio and TV were assaulted by Wanderers fans.
“We call upon authorities to investigate this and decisively punish the perpetrators as our sports journalists are supposed to be secure during football matches,” said Tembo.
However, Wanderers general secretary David Kanyenda blamed Silver for causing the fracas.
Kanyenda said Silver fans provoked violence when they confronted Wanderers supporters, adding that the general secretary of Super League of Malawi, William Banda witnessed everything.
Wanderers secretary said Silver should “forfeit three points for causing the violence.”
Wanderers fan died as a result of the skirmishes and has been identified as Lemiyasi Josita, 31, a fish-monger from Bwanje, Ntcheu.
Police said two Silver fans—Bruno Makina, 21, from Njolomole Village in Ntcheu and Austin Phiri, 21, from Sitola Village in T/A Sitola’s area in Machinga— were arrested in connection to the violence and investigations are still going on.
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