Football fans are eager to know what punishment will be slapped on both Power Dynamos and Nkana football clubs, following violent scenes during Saturday’s Kitwe derby.
Confusion erupted as fans invaded the pitch for their safety with a police officer and assistant referee, Nancy Kasitu, getting injured by flying objects from the terraces.
The first half dominated by Nkana ended without ugly scenes. However, in the second half when Andy Boyeli, put the hosts in the lead, the aftermath of the goal celebrations became chaotic as various objects were thrown onto the pitch.
Play only resumed after 15 minutes when the situation was calm.
Elvis Nkandu, the minister in charge of sports, described the uproar that occurs whenever the two teams play as unsatisfactory.
“Football is supposed to bring people together, but it was awful to see a police officer and assistant referee hurt. We shouldn’t get to such an extent,’ said Nkandu.
The minister singled out visiting fans to be the ones behind the throwing of various objects onto the pitch.
“We have to accept either a win or defeat. My appeal to Nkana fans is that they should stop this behavior going forward,” he said.
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He added that such behavior discourages others from attending matches at stadiums.
The Football Association of Zambia is expected to take disciplinary action in line with the match commissioners’ report.
With the match ending 2-0 in favor of Power, the Kitwe side are the 2023 champions-elect, their seventh league title in history should MUZA FC fail to close up the 20-goal difference between them.
