Rioting Fans Are Saboteurs Says Nkana

Nkana has labeled their hardcore fans who stirred a riot in their 3-2 home loss to Zesco United on Sunday as saboteurs.

Nkana fans allegedly assaulted Zesco supporters at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe leaving one visiting supporter seriously injured in the second half as play was stopped three times by referee Jan Sikazwe.

Also injured were two players.

Zesco goalkeeper Jacob Banda and Nkana defender Tumelo Chibwe were both injured and needed medical attention after missiles were thrown at them by alleged Nkana fans.

“This is sabotage,” Nkana vice secretary Stan Kaseko said. “We have put a lot to bring this club to where it is and some elements are trying to undo that hard work.

“It is unacceptable and we would rather have five disciplined fans that a 1000 who want to stir trouble for nothing whether or not they have paid.”

Kaseko said Nkana would review security at Nkana Stadium to try and avert a potential stadium ban.

Nkana has been blighted by a history of hooliganism since they were demoted in for the first time in their history in 2004.

In May 2007, Faz handed Nkana a 13 month ban after crowd trouble in their Week 14 game against Kalewa on May 25 with the hosts leading 1-0 before referee Maurice Changwe called off the match due to poor security and survived a lynching thereafter.

However, it was not the first incident at Nkana while in Division 1.

On March 15, 2005 Nkana fans attacked referee Bernard Chabala after a late 90th minute equalizer from Konkola Blades defender Wellington Mujembe in a match that was abandoned after a pitch invasion with the team’s level at 2-2.

It was the third incident in a space of a month in that year involving Nkana’s  notorious fans.

On April 2 of that year, Nkana hooligans beat up referee Tryson Phiri in Nkana’s 1-1 draw at home in a league game against Tazara Express.

A week later, Nkana players accosted a referee in their 1-0 away loss to Forest Rangers in another league fixture at venue.