There was drama at Mzuzu Stadium on Saturday before and after the TNM Super League encounter between Mighty Wanderers and Moyale Barracks. The match ended 2-1 in favour of Moyale.
The ugly scenes started when Wanderers Northern Region (NR) supporters’ chairperson Msinde Bola Moyo refused to have Zomba-based referee Denis Ngulube officiate the game.
Bola Moyo accused the referee of bias and that he played a part in circumstances that led to Wanderers being banned from playing at Kamuzu Stadium.
The Wanderers official told Ngulube to get lost, preferring Mzuzu-based referee Aziz Nyirenda, or else have the game cancelled.
It had to take the intervention of Wanderers’ treasurer general, who is also former coach and player Chiyembekezo Zidana, for Bola Moyo and some vocal supporters to give in.
After the match, former Mzuzu-based Wanderers supporters official Muhammad Kharid accused fellow supporters from the Centre and South of milking an already thin cow [Mighty Wanderers]. He claimed they stole money from the gates and demanded transport money after games.
“Today, you will not achieve that,†Kharid shouted at them as he grabbed by the neck the club’s supporters committee general secretary Felix Njaya.
Sensing danger, Bola Moyo and some committee members tried to rescue Njaya.
This was followed by a free-for-all fracas with most Mzuzu-based Wanderers fans ganging up against Kharid.
Nomads NR supporters second vice-chairperson McEdwards Ndhlovu defended their action against Kharid. He blamed him for provoking their colleagues from the Centre and South.
Mzuzu Police spokesperson Edward Longwe confirmed on Monday that his office had given Kharid a referral letter to seek medical attention. Longwe said police would only act on the alleged fracas after receiving a complaint from the victim and a report from the hospital.
Kharid confirmed receiving treatment at Mzuzu Health Centre and said he would report the matter to police.
Wanderers supporters committee chairperson Yona Malunga said on Monday he regretted the Mzuzu fracas. He said he was yet to get details about what happened.
