Had they been serious enough, Barbourfields Stadium would have long been banned for all football activities now. The reason is that Bulawayo soccer supporters, especially those who rally behind Highlanders Football Club, are hooligans.
The trend has been worsening – from sporadic fights to full-blown hooliganism, a few cases of stabbings and then death.
When it all began, the fights only followed Bosso’s home defeats to Dynamos. However, that seems to have changed and hooligan fans now want the team to win – or be gifted with every game they play in Bulawayo.
Of course it is not all Highlanders supporters who are violent, but those few have, within a few years, managed to soil the good name that Bosso has painstakingly built over the years. Apparently, some Bosso supporters would rather visiting teams throw matches to ensure a Bosso win at all costs at Barbourfields.
Veteran broadcaster Ezra Tshisa Sibanda recently expressed worry at the growing rate of hooliganism in Bulawayo. “These are some unruly elements masquerading as Highlanders supporters who have developed a sick culture of violence during Bosso games,” said an angry Sibanda on Facebook on Sunday.
“These barbaric people are soiling the good name of Zimbabwe's oldest and arguably most supported team. They should stop using Bosso's cult status to vent their frustration on the political and economic situation.
“Highlanders have nothing to do with the problems in the country. Neither do the teams playing against Highlanders. These people should use other platforms other than the sport to vent their anger. Bosso is the pride and only hope for our people.”
This followed the latest incident in which a fan wearing green was brutally beaten and left for dead during skirmishes at Barbourfields Stadium, after Caps United beat Bosso 2-1 in the Bob91 Trophy semi-finals. The man is fighting for his life in hospital and in serious condition.
The former soccer radio commentator urged authorities to act to save the club. “Thugs should go hang and leave the real supporters of Highlanders to cheer the team. It's time for Bosso to act on these unruly thugs. The PSL needs to understand the factors that contribute to problems in football, which will help the league frame their local analysis questions, determine effective measures, recognise key intervention points and select appropriate responses,” he said.
“The use of CCTV cameras and creating supporters clubs can help alleviate these problems as those who come to grounds as fans to cause violence can be identified, arrested, thrown to prison and banned from soccer matches for life. Common sense suggests that people who become accustomed to using physical intimidation and violence in sport naturally revert to those behaviours when facing conflict outside of sport,” he added.
Post published in: Football