By Ziyah News Sports Reporter
What was meant to be an afternoon of football fiesta and contest in the Central Region Soccer League match between Gwanda Pirates and Shabanie Mine turned into a horror movie as one person was stabbed to death in an incident that spotlights the challenge of hooliganism in the country.
The match was abandoned in the 68th minute when the teams were in tied 0-0
Reports from. Gwanda indicate the violence erupted after 68 minutes when Gwanda Pirates player Sianchali elbowed Shabanie’s Edward Tapfuma.
Another Shabanie player Trevor Moyo is alleged to have ran to cool tempers and all hell broke loose as Gwanda Pirates supporters started to throw stones into the pitch and even went to the extent of pouring beer on the match commissioner.
It is alleged that one Gwanda Pirates fan even fired two gunshots into the air and two Shabanie Mine FC fans were stabbed with a knife one of whom lost his life.
The incident highlights issues bedevilling local football especially at Division one level where the level of professionalism, security have been dwindling. Most of these matches have no medical emergency plans as required by FIFA, security is non existent. It might be time for ZIFA to accelerate the adoption of a national division one league, streamlining the number of teams to ensure the association enforces the standard needed for these kind of matches.