Dembare fans brutally stab Bosso fan to death

A Highlanders fan was stabbed to death in cold blood by suspected Dynamos supporters after Saturday's epic clash at Babourfields stadium in Bulawayo.

The teams' intense rivalry spilled out of the pitch when mostly Bosso fans rioted after the match.

The Bosso fans were frustrated with losing one nil to their arch rivals, whom they last beat in open play in 2006.

Witnesses said a Highlanders supporter, only identified as Themba (23) got into a fight with some Dembare supporters.

"Some Bosso fans were smashing vehicles outside the stadium when Themba threw a stone at a car that was draped with the Dynamos flag. The people in the car were not amused and they started chasing after him in the car. They lost sight of him but saw him again near Renkini Bus Terminus," said a witness.

The people in the car reportedly piled out and confronted Themba who was dressed in a white overall that had the Bosso insignia on it.

"They started beating him and he fought back and one of the people produced a knife and stabbed him on the chest, killing him instantly. Two of them were arrested a few hours later and they told police Themba fell on some security spikes near the Renkini main gate but that story has since been proved to be false," said a police officer who is close to investigations.

Themba's uncle who only identified himself as Ncube, said there was a funeral wake at Sizinda Flats but the deceased's parents have said their son is not dead.

Themba was an apprentice at the National Railways of Zimbabwe, according to his uncle.

Police in Bulawayo could not be reached for comment.

According to Dynamos fans, soccer violence resulted in their team dominating Highlanders at every turn since 2006.

The supporters blame the death of one of their most colourful leaders, Stanford Nhau aka Taribo West, on Bosso.

They claim he died from injuries sustained after an assault by the Bulawayo giants' fans at Babourfields Stadium in 2006.

They have declared that until Highlanders formally apologises and pays an undisclosed number of cattle as compensation, their team will never beat Dynamos.

The declaration would seem to hold water if match statistics are anything to go by.

Highlanders supporters have always maintained that Nhau died of HIV related TB.