Soldiers deployed to patrol Civo Stadium ahead of Silver-KB clash: Malawi TNM Super League
Soldiers from Malawi Defence Force (MDF) headquarters have been deployed to patrol Civo Stadium in Lilongwe ahead of Sunday’s (February 17, 2013) TNM Super League decisive clash involving Kamuzu Barracks and Silver Strikers.
According to findings by Nyasa Times, a team of soldiers from the army headquarters started patrolling the stadium on the morning of Saturday (February 16, 2013) and were set to spend the night at the stadium to check any malpractices by Silver Strikers supporters, who have a reputation of using dirty tactics in such crucial ties.
“We have been deployed to patrol the stadium until the game is played and we will be here day and night,” said one of the soldiers found by a Nyasa Times reporter at the stadium Saturday morning.
A guard at the stadium also confirmed the presence of military personnel at the stadium but refused to shed more light for fear of the soldiers.
The bankers badly need a win on Sunday to claim the league title with a crucial game against Mighty Wanderers to spare while the soldiers from army headquarters need the full points to finish in the top eight.
Nyasa Times can confirm that supporters or ‘sing’angas’ (juju men) from big teams usually visit match venues at night to apply juju or simply to guard the stadiums.
Less than a decade ago, Silver Strikers and Moyale Barracks officials kept shifting blame on each other following the presence of strange objects at Silver Stadium, where the two teams were set to meet in a crucial cup tie.
Silver fans, who spent a night at the stadium claimed they spotted Moyale followers planting the objects in the wee hours of the day the game was scheduled to take place but Moyale trashed down the claims, saying their team only went to train at the stadium.
Just last week, Silver Strikers were accused by Epac FC of infesting the visitors’ dressing room with blood and other objects, a development that led to Epac refusing to use the dressing room. Two
Silver fans were also rounded up by Epac officials as they tried to go round the stadium when the match had just started.
Silver have since been fined over K1 million over the conduct of their fans and an official Denis Kachikho and ordered to play six official home games away from home following the violence that resulted from the bankers’ malpractices. Epac have also been fined K150,000 for failing to exercise restraint.
