By STANFORD CHIWANGA
HIGHLANDERS Football Club fringe player Innocent Magaya is lucky to have made it into 2010 after he was stabbed in the stomach and wrist shortly before the dawn on New Year’s Eve in Sizinda suburb in Bulawayo.
The 23-year-old striker required 14 stitches on his stomach and six on the wrists following a scuffle with Nqobizitha Ngwenya (20) who has gone into hiding.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Province police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo confirmed the incident, saying the law enforcement agents would do everything in their power to bring Magaya’s assailant to book.
“The suspect is still at large and we are doing everything in our power to bring the suspect to book. I urge the public not to resort to violence when solving their problems because it will lead to unnecessary harm and worse still loss of life,” he said.
Trouble is said to have started when Magaya allegedly told Ngwenya’s in-laws that they should stop playing “boring Shona music” and this did not go down well with Ngwenya who decided to defend the “dignity” of his in-laws.
In an interview yesterday morning, Magaya denied that he insulted Ngwenya’s in-laws.
“I was drunk and I don’t remember saying anything tribal. But I remember that I said something about the music they were playing and this did not go down well with Nqo who started hurling insults at me. I cannot recall what happened I just remember lying in a pool of blood with terrible pain on my stomach and wrist,” he said.
“I don’t know how I survived but I thank the Good Samaritan who administered first aid on me by bandaging my wounds. Doctors at United Bulawayo Hospitals told me that I could have died if first aid was not administered on me,” said Magaya.
According to residents who witnessed the incident, Ngwenya was so infuriated by Magaya’s lack of respect for his in-laws that he smashed a beer bottle on the ground and viciously stabbed Magaya on the stomach and wrist.
“He wanted to kill him but he had obviously not thought about it because when he saw Magaya lying helplessly and bleeding profusely on the ground it dawned to him that he might have killed him.
“He is very lucky that Magaya did not die because if he had passed away he could have been in deep trouble,” said a resident, who requested anonymity.
Magaya who recently returned home from South Africa said his mission back home was to try and impress Highlanders coach Mohammed Fathy.
“I got frustrated at Highlanders because I did not get any game time, so I went to South Africa to look for ways to fend for myself. But I returned home in December last year when I heard that Fathy would be holding trials in order to give reserve players a chance to impress him. I wanted to avoid being transfer listed, but I guess that will happen after all,” said Magaya, visibly in pain.
The striker who is recuperating at his home in Sizinda revealed that he would be dropping charges against Ngwenya because he does not want him to suffer.
Magaya said: “Nqo is just a boy and I know his parents. Before this, we had a cordial relationship and I understand that such things happen in life. Besides we were all drunk I said something stupid and Nqo acted stupidly. But that does not mean that he has to suffer for that. I forgive him for what he did.” The Sunday News
