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Lovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
FALTERING football giants, Highlanders, were yesterday hit with a heavy fine for their supporters’ unruly behaviour in the match against ZPC Kariba at Hartsfield Grounds last month.
And Bosso fans have been threatened with life bans from football if caught on the wrong side of the law in future.

Two visiting team players Tawanda Nyamandwe and Tawanda Munyanduri were struck by missiles thrown from the terraces which were intended for Bosso players and technical team.

Highlanders were fined $3,000 with $500 suspended for the rest of the season by a Premier Soccer league disciplinary committee after being found guilty of flouting the league’s rules and regulations.

The team’s supporters have left the vastly popular side with the “bad boys” tag to compound their team’s poor run despite an unprecedented heavy presence on the transfer market since the start of the 2012 season.

According to the verdict issued by the PSL management yesterday, Vusi Vuma chaired the hearing with former referee Brighton Mudzamiri and a Gapare being part of the panel. Highlanders were represented by vice chairman Mgcini Mpofu. They were found to have flouted Order 31 of the Castle Lager Premier Rules and Regulations which is an act of misconduct.

Order 31.1.2 reads: “Its players, officials, servants or duly authorised (expressed or implied) representatives or supporters directly or indirectly

interrupt, obstruct or disturb the normal proceedings of a game, during or after the match.”

Such actions are considered contrary to the rules of the league. It is considered a crime whether committed in or outside the stadium.

The rules further say in Article 31.1.13.3; “Throwing or attempting to throw missiles, bottled or other objects, whether harmful or dangerous or not, onto the pitch, or any person.”

According to a PSL release yesterday, allegations were reported by match referee Arnold Ncube who handled the September 28 clash at Hartsfield Stadium.

Highlanders supporters who were allegedly clad in black and white regalia just after the match started singings songs clamouring for the heads of coach Kelvin Kaindu and the whole team. They later threw missiles onto the pitch aimed at both Bosso, ZPC Kariba and officials. The referees were also not spared and in the ensuing confusion Nyamandwe and Munyanduri including a ball boy were hit by missiles. The substitution board which was in the fourth official’s hands was also struck.

Police promptly jumped onto the field to protect the sportspersons. Ncube said the situation normalised after 30 minutes.

In finding Highlanders guilty, the committee resolved that: “A fine of $3,000 of which $500 is suspended for the rest of the season on condition the club, its officials or its supporters are not convicted of any offence involving the throwing of missiles. The effective fine of $2,500 together with costs with payment to be made by November 30.”

In mitigation, Highlanders’ Mpofu pleaded with the committee to consider that the club was also a victim because the attack was directed at its officials, head coach Kaindu as well as players.

Highlanders implored the responsible authority to assist in the identification of the culprits. These would be prosecuted. He said the club had been involved in anti-violence campaigns in the past three years. Mpofu argued that Hartsfield was not big enough for his club’s crowd but were forced to use it because of the on-going preparations for the Region Five Games set for December.

The Highlanders vice chairman said stones were everywhere at Hartsfield.

However, in aggravation, the prosecution implored the committee to take stern disciplinary action against Highlanders.

“Highlanders’ disciplinary record leaves a lot to be desired and yet as the oldest club, they must lead by example. During the day in question property was damaged and there were injuries to players as well as a ball boy,” reads part of the statement.

In arriving at the sentence it was noted that the club had pleaded guilty. Highlanders will pay for the damaged property.

“However, we condemn in the strongest terms any acts of violence. Soccer is just a sport, a unifier, a family game where people are free to interact and watch the game. It’s not a war zone where missiles are fired indiscriminately without any due consequences. Violence in whatever form is just barbaric.

“The police must apprehend all perpetrators and make them pay dearly. As a committee we will not hesitate to ban them from soccer for life if caught and brought before us,” wrote Vuma.

Fans were urged to follow proper channels to air their discontent rather than venting their anger on innocent souls.

In most instances of violence in Bulawayo and Harare residents close to Barbourfields and Rufaro have been affected by the rowdy mobs coming from the stadia.

The disciplinary committee is confident that the suspended sentence will act as a deterrent measure.