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Emily Mbewe Court Reporter
A HIGHLANDERS Football Club supporter has been arraigned for allegedly invading the pitch while celebrating his team’s goal and assaulting two police officers, one of them with a brick.Mthokozisi Ndlovu, 25, is alleged to have punched Constable Mbongeni Siziba once on the right eye and struck Constable Hwidzisa Maphosa with a brick on the neck during a match between Highlanders and Whawha at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.

Bosso won the match 2-0 courtesy of goals from Obadiah Tarumbwa and Knox Mutizwa.

Highlanders chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede yesterday said Ndlovu’s actions had cost the club $2,000 after they were fined by the Premier Soccer League.

Ndlovu yesterday appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze facing two counts of assault.

He pleaded not guilty and was remanded out of custody to June 15 for trial.

Ndlovu told the court that he only jumped onto the pitch in a bid to hug his friend, Mutizwa who had scored Bosso’s second goal.

“Your worship I’m not aware of the other offence of assaulting a police officer. I only jumped onto the pitch so as to celebrate together with my friend who had scored,” said Ndlovu.

Prosecuting, Dumisani Ndlovu told the court that last Sunday during a match between Highlanders and Whawha Football club at Barbourfields Stadium, Ndlovu was seated in the Soweto stand.

“Ndlovu jumped onto the pitch while celebrating a goal before two police officers, Maphosa and Siziba, approached him in a bid to arrest him,” said the prosecutor.

The court heard that Ndlovu, who realised that the two police officers were in hot pursuit, picked up a brick and hit Maphosa on the neck.

Ndlovu told the court that Maphosa was rescued by Siziba who managed to apprehend Ndlovu.

He said Ndlovu, however, punched Siziba once on the right eye before the two police officers finally subdued him.