ABSA and the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) have been forced to change the venue of the ABSA Cup semi – final from Levy Mwanawasa Stadium to Railways Stadium following the fracas that happened during the Kitwe Derby.
On Sunday, chaos ensued at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium when Nkana fans protested a penalty awarded to Power Dynamos. In the end, over 500 seats were destroyed.
In a bid to avoid a similar incident, ABSA and FAZ have taken the semi – final away from Power and Nkana fans who are predominantly based on the Copperbelt to Kabwe.
Power face Red Arrows while Nkana take on Zesco United in the semi – final.
“Following incidence that occurred during the recent Zambia Premier League (ZPL) fixture involving Nkana Football Club and Power Dynamos-both of whom are also semi-finalists in the Absa Cup-a decision has been made to move the semi-final double header to Railway Stadium in Kabwe as a precautionary measure.
“This move is intended to ensure the safety of fans, players, and all stakeholders, and to allow the matches to proceed without undue disruptions. At Absa, we are committed to supporting football in Zambia while upholding the highest standards of safety and event management,” the joint statement read in part.