The TNM Super League match between home team Friend of Orphans (FOMO) FC and Dedza Dynamos at Mulanje Park Stadium was marred by Juju beliefs.
When the players emerged from the dressing room to begin the first half, each team had ten players.
At the time, one player from each team stood on the line and refused to go inside. FOMO had Mike Banda, and Dedza had Khumbo Banda.
Later on, when the match began, they all entered the field of play and played the entire first half.
After the first stanza, as both teams headed to the dressing rooms, each team left one player on the field of play.
This time, FOMO left Oscar Mangwaya, and Dedza left Chifuniro Mpinganjira. Despite being told to go to the dressing room, they refused.
Referee Cedric Mwachumu attempted to tell them to leave the pitch, but they refused and he later issued them with yellow cards.
Even that did not move them, forcing the referee to show them red cards.
Interestingly, despite receiving red cards, they remained on the pitch until the teams returned for the second half.
The second half was played with each team having ten players. The match finished 1-1.
A similar incident occurred last August, in which Dedza was also involved. On that day, they were playing Kamuzu Barracks at Lilongwe’s Civo Stadium.
FOMO coach Gilbert Chirwa said he couldn’t comment on what happened because he was already in the dressing room.
“These things don’t help,” he said.
Dedza coach Andrew Bunya claimed that a lot happened as the home team did a lot of drama to win the match.
READ MORE: Tapera selects 22 players for Zimbabwe’s COSAFA squad
