Zimbabwe football – The fans and the curse of hooliganism

By Lot Chitakasha

There is a joke that is doing the rounds on social media. It says, “Haikona kuita ruzha semasupporters eHighlanders..” , literally translated “Do not be rowdy and confrontational like a Highlanders supporter..” While this might be a rib cracker for some, I found myself asking whether this label which is often attached to the supporters of this great football club can stand up to scrutiny. Is it not just another stereotype ? The purpose of this article is to assess the role of the fans in the Zimbabwe football fraternity.

The spectre of violence has often raised its ugly head in our football. Are certain supporters prone to hooliganism than others? If yes what can be done to eradicate this phenomenon? I hope this article will do justice to this important subject.

To clarify matters, let me define football hooliganism. The term describes unruly, violent and
destructive behaviour by overzealous supporters. Behaviour includes, brawling, vandalism and intimidation. It is obvious that this kind of behaviour is bad for the sport and eradicating it should be a priority.

Hooliganism can be explained through various sociological theories and depending on
one’s theoretical persuasions various causes can be given prominence. This calls for an in depth academic paper and I will leave that for another day.

Growing up in the early 1980’s, I fell in love with Caps United Football club. My love was cultivated during the early years when the club used to train at the Zimbabwe grounds in Highfield. The club had some great players, Shacky Tauro, Joel Shambo, Stanley Ndunduma, Stix Mtizwa, Friday Phiri, Duncan Ellison, Charles Sibanda among others.

I never missed a training session. My excuse to disappear from home was the same, I would lie that I was going to the library. Highfield Community Library was just a few metres from my father’s house. A fence separated the library from the Zimbabwe grounds. Together with my young brother Clement, we would dump the books in the reading room and proceed to the training ground. We would sit there for two hours enjoying the training session. From these early escapades, my love for the team grew and it has endured up to this day.

My memories of the team’s supporters have always been good ones and I do not remember any violent confrontations from these early years. For one reason or another, the club’s supporters have often been regarded as the gentlemen and gentle ladies of Zimbabwe football. They are considered to be well behaved and respectful, who shy away from violence.

The team also attracted a large portion of female supporters and this helped them in the behaviour stakes. The argument advanced for this is that they had young
handsome players in the mould Joel Shambo, a man whose smile illuminated stadiums for over a decade and Stanley Ndunduma just to mention the two. In later years they also had Blessing Makunike..but I am going ahead of myself. Anyway I think the point has been made, the team’s female fan base was notable and this made the club more family oriented.

Supporting the club in the first two decades after independence, I do not remember any incidences of fan violence. Sadly, this has all changed. I will give one example. On December 5 2015, the club’s supporters disrupted a NetOne Easy call cup semi-final against Chicken Inn. The fans threw missiles, invaded the pitch and attacked Chicken Inn supporters and players. All this was broadcast live.

The disciplinary committee descended hard on them and fined them $ 3 500 . This is not the Caps united fan base I remember from my early days. Environmentalists have also raised concerns about the supporters’ tendency to destroy the vegetation. They call themselves the “Green Army” and to add colour they harvest the vegetation on their way to venues, they have little regard for environmental rules. It is my hope that they will rediscover their impeccable good behaviour of old.

The biggest club in the country, Dynamos have the most passionate and loyal supporters. With such as massive fan base, problems are bound to happen. However, let me start with the positives. Whenever Dynamos play, the stadiums are a sea of blue. This was especially so in the 1980’s and 90’s when the club claimed to have 7 million supporters.

I remember the three old men clad in overalls who celebrated each goal by bumping their big
tummies against each other. They were a spectacle. I also remember Shepherd Darlington Sidindi, a man so crazy about the team that he hitch hiked all the way to Kinshasa to watch them play against Lupopo F C. This was in the early 80’s when many people did not have passports and foreign travel was a luxury. The man warrants a page when the history of this great club is written.

As a dominant force, Dynamos supporters are respected as well as feared. Their traditional base at Rufaro Stadium, the Vietnam stand is and still remains a no go area for any opposing fan. Cases of missiles raining down the pitch, urine in bottles and physical assaults are not uncommon. Dynamos supporters tend to dominate every ground they visit except perhaps Barbourfields stadium the Highlanders stronghold.

My first encounter with football violence was sometime in 1982. I had gone to Gwanzura stadium to watch Dynamos play Bata Power. During this era, it was rare for Dynamos to lose a football match especially at home. Bata Power from Gweru had arrived as underdogs but they staged an upset.

They raced to a 3-0 lead with two well taken free kicks from the great Onias Musana. Although Dynamos pulled two back, they ran out of time to find an equaliser. When the referee blew the final whistle, all hell broke loose. Fans invaded the pitch and wanted to attack the referee and the Bata Power supporters. The players spend close to an hour holed in the dressing room.

The team bus had its windows shattered. The police moved in and unleashed teargas and after some running battles , order was finally restored. There have been many such incidences, too numerous to enumerate. They cannot stomach a defeat, the 7 million supporters and missiles can rain at any time.

When militant football support came to the fore, two big characters emerged in the Dynamos fan base. Taribo West, real name Stanford Nhau and Freddy Mugadza, he adds Pasuwa as his middle name became the new kids on the block. These two were a different breed of supporter who mobilised others and led the fanatical cheering of the team.

Taribo was well known for his colourful regalia and blue and white dreadlocks. He was both respected and feared. His shadowy political links with the dreaded Chipangano , a militant political youth group made him a dreaded warlord among the fans. Unfortunately he passed on, his death a result of a brutal assault he suffered at Babourfields stadium. Highlanders supporters however dispute this claim, arguing that his health had been deteriorating and hence his death had nothing to do with the assault.

Freddy Pasuwa Mugadza or Chairman as many call him is Zimbabwe’s version of the football ultra. He describes himself as a football fanatic who will do anything to make his team win. By his own admission, violence is just one of the tools that he used to achieve his goals. He became synonymous with the successful Champions league run by Dynamos in 1998. His bandaged head and blue jersey became symbolic of that heroic performance by the boys in Blue.

The club recognised his contribution by giving him a medal, the same as the players who reached the final. However many have dismissed him as a hooligan who was a terror to other fans. I respect his passion but I also respect those who were at the receiving end of his physical confrontations. I am just glad that he has reformed and he plans to write a book about his years of notoriety. Perhaps this will give us insight into his thinking, he does have many stories to tell.

During the current season, Highlanders football club has been in the headlines for the wrong
reasons. From the infamous placard waving supporter who insulted a whole ethnic group to the recent match against Platinum, the fans have shown a propensity for violence.
Highlanders have a massive fan base, second only to Dynamos. These supporters view the club as more than a club. It is an identity, a symbol of Ndebele culture. Most of the supporters are drawn from the Ndebele ethnic group although the team does have supporters from other groups as well.

Many supporters express their cultural allegiances through the club. Supporting the team is a
reaffirmation of their identity. This strong sense of identity if not channelled well can present some problems and the poor fellow who displayed that placard is one such example. Many fans have come to view Highlanders supporters as violent who will not hesitate to go to matches carrying knives and knobkerries.

Some even say it is a cultural norm . I however do not subscribe to this theory but It is also true that there are some overzealous supporters who tarnish the image of this
great club. My favourite writer Chinua Achebe once said,” In all great compounds, there must be people of all minds, some good , some bad, some fearless and some cowardly, those who bring in wealth and those who scatter it, those who give advice and those who only speak the words of palm wine. That is why they say whatever tune you play in the compound of a great man, there is always someone to dance to it..”

This is the comfort i have, with such a massive fan base, the good , the bad and the
ugly will always co-exist but i hope that the good will rise to the top. It is not all gloom and doom though. It is always a spectacle to see images of Barbourfields stadium
packed to the roof with the fans .The mixture of black and white colours is a scene to marvel at and the Bosso road shows are part of Zimbabwe football history.

Other clubs have provided us with great supporters as well. Arcadia United, with Aunt Dotty in full voice “ come on Arcadia ..”, Gweru united of Pisa Pisa fame, Blackpool with the Ndochi dancing girls, the colourful Amazulu fans. The list is endless.

How then can we tackle football hooliganism?
Football hooliganism is a common problem in most leagues. One Russian official said, “ If the
mayhem created by fans is not ended, then it is going to be the end of our football.” This was after Spartak Moscow fans had ripped seats , thrown missiles and fought running battles with the police.

According to Sean Ingle a reporter with the Guardian newspaper, “The same used to be said about the British game, yet slowly things have changed. Hooliganism which was once a cancer is more like a cold sore, an irritation that flares up every so often rather than something that can be regarded as terminal…”

Zimbabwe’s situation has not reached terminal stage. Yet violent scenes have been witnessed often enough to scare sponsors. For a league that needs every cent, this is a worry. Maybe by borrowing what the British have done, we can bale this water while it is still ankle deep. Here is a brief summary .

The British put in place laws to deal specifically with the football offences. The Football offences Act of 1991 was enacted. Offences include, entering the stadium while drunk, possession of alcohol, throwing of missiles ,pitch invasions, indecent and racist chanting, and ticket touting. If any of these offences are committed , a banning order can be enforced. Scotland also have the Offensive Behaviour at football communication act of2012. Legislation is important because the offender
knows the consequences .

The UK Football Unit , a police department was also established with a special department on football intelligence. Potential trouble makers are easily spotted and a data
base is kept. This again acts as a deterrent. The advance in technology has also helped. CCCTV in grounds help to pick out offenders. We need to invest in this area. This is a huge business opportunity for young entrepreneurs and it will make the grounds safe. Zimbabwe already have segregated areas but I think we should think of assigning seats to fans.

In this regard we need to invest massively in our stadiums. Other measures that have
been introduced include starting high risk matches early and this also stops fans from drinking
heavily before attending matches. When matches start at 3 pm, fans have more time to drink. Clubs have also been empowered to deal with persistent offenders who can be banned for life.

The provision is also there for clubs to play in empty stadiums if unruly behaviour persists.
Other clubs especially in Europe have resorted to fan education. This involves teaching young
supporters to hold better values, telling them that violence leads to injuries and a criminal record.

Legends of the club and reformed hooligans are used as resource persons. I think this will work , education is always the key. Clubs should also reach out to their fans not only wait to see them on match day. Community projects can help in establishing this rapport. Fans will realise that hooliganism can only hurt their club and they will improve their behaviour.

We have had a great season the race has been tight. Caps united has just crossed the line,
congratulations. However the scourge of football violence has stayed with us . Referees have been attacked. Even in the lower leagues, incidences have been reported. One soccer coach was killed by one blow to the head in Epworth. Our big clubs continue to be fined for the rowdy behaviour of their fans. We cannot be complacent and measures must be put in place to fight the scourge.

The British confronted the problem head on and although our problem is not to their level, we can borrow a page or two from their manual. The measures that they adopted has changed the face of their game for the better.