OnSport Reporter
Violence rocked the Bulawayo Province Juniors League matches over the weekend leading to the abandonment of two fixtures.
At Iminyela on Saturday, Highlanders’ juniors Under-15 game against Iminyela Timers was abandoned in the 19th minute following crowd trouble.
The match was called off after fans threw missiles onto the ground and Iminyela supporters threatened to deal with the match officials if their side lost the match.
According to referee, Martin Shoko two opposing players collided in the 19th minute in a 50-50 situation and the Iminyela player fell to the ground “resulting in fans arguing with the referee’s decision”.
According to the referee’s report after about 30 seconds following the incident “a fan threw a big stone weighing about 1 kg”.
“I immediately stopped play in the 19th min. Assistant referees came to me and said home fans are abusing her by calling her names and some threatened to beat her saying she had missed an offside incident in the (previous) Under-13 match.
“They continued threatening me including saying if their team loses me and my assistant will be in for it,” read Shoko’s report.
He said he tried to continue the match but amid attack fears and abusive language by the home fans while Bosso also expressed reservations fearing for their players and technical staff’ safety.
On Saturday at Luveve on, Tshaka’s Under-17 fixture against Makhandeni Pirates was also abandoned in the 55th minute when referee, Nothabo Nkabinde awarded a free kick to Tshaka after adjudging a foul on the goalkeeper.
Tshaka had scored in the incident
Nkabinde said the Pirates technical bench stormed the pitch to protest the decision, hurling insults towards her.
Despite asking the Pirates bench to leave the pitch they refused and eventually ordered their players off the field.
In her report, Nkabinde said:
“…after waiting a while there was no option but to call off the match with the score line at 1-1.”
Zifa Bulawayo Province chairman, Francis Ntuta condemned the abandonment of matches saying violent conduct at all football levels should be condemned particularly at the juniors level.
“We will refer the matches to our disciplinary committee to deal with them but as an executive we condemn the abandonment of matches. Violence is not welcome at all levels in football but in juniors it’s totally unacceptable,” he said.
