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Reward Kangai

Takudzwa Chitsiga Harare Bureau
NETONE chief executive officer Reward Kangai has joined the Premier Soccer League in a no to hooliganism campaign ahead of Sunday’s Easycall Cup final pitting Highlanders and Chicken Inn at Barboufields. Kangai, who pledged his support for the tournament said they are against violence at fotball. “As NetOne we opted to sponsor the tournament to the tune of more than $500,000 because we love and believe in this beautiful game.

“Several soccer supporters have thronged stadia to watch soccer in various parts of the country so we find it disturbing that some supporters are not gracious in defeat and opt to cause chaos thereby endangering people’s lives. “Scenes witnessed at Barboufields during the semi-finals between Chicken Inn and CAPS United can’t be condoned and should never be repeated,” said Kangai.

Netone have since engaged PSL on what transpired as they do not want to be associated with hooliganism. “We’ve since engaged the Premier League so that they will get to the bottom of what transpired. It’s not our wish to be associated with such behaviours and we urge all stakeholders to play their part in saying no to hooliganism.

The league’s marketing manager, Rodwell Thabe, also promised the sponsors that they would try and do the right thing this time around and said it is not good for football development to have such incidents. “We as the organisers of the game we promise that this time we will be on high alert to avoid any cases of violence or missile throwing during the final.

“We’ve put in place measures that will ensure everyone will be safe to attend the match and we will not hesitate as the Premier League to punish whoever will be caught on the wrong side of the law.

“Last week’s events were very unfortunate and we will rectify that during the final as we don’t encourage hooliganism in any way,” Thabe said. Highlanders and Chicken Inn will clash in this year’s Easycall Cup after they knocked out Harare gianst Dynamos and CAPS United respectively at the semi-final stage.

Bosso beat Dynamos 2-1 through goals from Knox Mutizwa and veteran Obidiah Tarumbwa. Earlier in the quarter-finals Highlanders saw off FC Platinum 1-0 at Mandava.

The Gamecocks dimissed ZPC Kariba through a penalty shootout lottery before an emphatic 3-0 win over CAPS United in the semi-final and this sparked a violent reaction by the Green Machine’s fans who could not stomach the loss.