Blantyre, Malawi, March 24: Malawi defending Supper League Champions, Big Bullets have reacted angrily to accusations that their fans caused violence in last Sunday friendly match involving their bitter rivals Mighty Be Forward Wanderers and Silver Strikers.
The Lilongwe based, Silver Strikers were playing a ceremonial friendly match against Blantyre based, Wanderers to spice up the launch of their opponents sponsorship.
Early this year Wanderers clinched a K70 million sponsorship deal, from a Japanese second-hand car dealer Be Forward.
Bullets Chairperson, Kondie Msungama, Tuesday described the allegations which were made on Monday by his Wanderers counterpart, George Chamangwana in a radio interview as false and baseless.
The Lilongwe based, Silver Strikers were playing a ceremonial friendly match against Blantyre based, Wanderers to spice up the launch of their opponents sponsorship.
Early this year Wanderers clinched a K70 million sponsorship deal, from a Japanese second-hand car dealer Be Forward.
Bullets Chairperson, Kondie Msungama, Tuesday described the allegations which were made on Monday by his Wanderers counterpart, George Chamangwana in a radio interview as false and baseless.
“I do not know where all these allegations are coming from. It seems you people are used to the fact that when things go wrong you blame Bullets. You [media also] always think that if an issue doesn’t have an element of Bullets in it, it’s not newsworthy.
“We have enough problems to deal with so please do not embroil us in this issue which is none of our concern,” said Msungama in a radio interview aired Tuesday morning.
Two of the suspects Police arrested during Sunday fracas had reportedly put on Bullets colours of red and white, further to that they were sitting in the eastern stands of Kamuzu Stadium traditionally occupied by Bullets faithful and that was where the trouble started.
Nonetheless, Msungama was still adamant saying that was not enough evidence to implicate his club in the saga saying this would be the work of hostile elements who do not wish his club well.
“It could be anyone else. Is it only our fans who watch other teams’ games? Why not asking Blantyre United, Red Lions or Chikhwawa United fans? It is not only our fans who seat on those stands to watch games and put on red colours.
“Many people are keeping red clothes in their houses. I have met Wanderers players and fans putting on red colours and they look pleasant in it,” added Msungama.
But Wanderers General Secretary, Mike Butao without explicitly pointing finger of blame to their rivals insisted that his club knows who was behind the fracas saying it was neither Silver nor Wanderers fans.
“We know who is behind the last Sunday game crowd trouble. We have not wished anyone ill thing or done anything sinister against any other club in the country.
That is why during the launch we emphasized to potential sponsors to as well consider other teams without sponsorship because football cannot develop in the country when only three teams have sponsorship,” explained Butao.
Bullets currently, Malawi torch-bearers in CAF Champions League are without sponsorship and depend on get charges and donations from well wishers t to meet administrative costs.
The Sunday ill tempered game was abandoned in the 76th minute when angry fans pelted the pitch after a second Silver Strikers midfielder; Ndaziona Chatsalira received marching orders for slashing and stamping on Wanderer’s Cameroon born Lionel Asu.
Immediately, anti-riot police responded by lobbing and firing several rounds of teargas canisters to quell the situation.
Earlier, Silver Strikers Captain Lucky Malata got a straight red card for using a foul language after match official referee; Waneck Mlenga had awarded a penalty to wanderers after their striker, was fouled in the eighteen yard area.
It has become an established tradition in Malawi that every time a local or a foreign play either Wanderers or Bullets the rival fans rally behind the other team. During Sunday game suspected Bullets fans were cheering Silver Strikers.
The tendency that has on most occasions previously heightened tempers which in very serious scenarios degenerated into physical fights between rival fans.
“We have enough problems to deal with so please do not embroil us in this issue which is none of our concern,” said Msungama in a radio interview aired Tuesday morning.
Two of the suspects Police arrested during Sunday fracas had reportedly put on Bullets colours of red and white, further to that they were sitting in the eastern stands of Kamuzu Stadium traditionally occupied by Bullets faithful and that was where the trouble started.
Nonetheless, Msungama was still adamant saying that was not enough evidence to implicate his club in the saga saying this would be the work of hostile elements who do not wish his club well.
“It could be anyone else. Is it only our fans who watch other teams’ games? Why not asking Blantyre United, Red Lions or Chikhwawa United fans? It is not only our fans who seat on those stands to watch games and put on red colours.
“Many people are keeping red clothes in their houses. I have met Wanderers players and fans putting on red colours and they look pleasant in it,” added Msungama.
But Wanderers General Secretary, Mike Butao without explicitly pointing finger of blame to their rivals insisted that his club knows who was behind the fracas saying it was neither Silver nor Wanderers fans.
“We know who is behind the last Sunday game crowd trouble. We have not wished anyone ill thing or done anything sinister against any other club in the country.
That is why during the launch we emphasized to potential sponsors to as well consider other teams without sponsorship because football cannot develop in the country when only three teams have sponsorship,” explained Butao.
Bullets currently, Malawi torch-bearers in CAF Champions League are without sponsorship and depend on get charges and donations from well wishers t to meet administrative costs.
The Sunday ill tempered game was abandoned in the 76th minute when angry fans pelted the pitch after a second Silver Strikers midfielder; Ndaziona Chatsalira received marching orders for slashing and stamping on Wanderer’s Cameroon born Lionel Asu.
Immediately, anti-riot police responded by lobbing and firing several rounds of teargas canisters to quell the situation.
Earlier, Silver Strikers Captain Lucky Malata got a straight red card for using a foul language after match official referee; Waneck Mlenga had awarded a penalty to wanderers after their striker, was fouled in the eighteen yard area.
It has become an established tradition in Malawi that every time a local or a foreign play either Wanderers or Bullets the rival fans rally behind the other team. During Sunday game suspected Bullets fans were cheering Silver Strikers.
The tendency that has on most occasions previously heightened tempers which in very serious scenarios degenerated into physical fights between rival fans.
By: Joel Chirwa
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