Bosso meet police

THE Highlanders FC leadership met police and council representatives yesterday in a bid to find common ground on hooliganism which has soiled the Bosso brand following uncouth behaviour by fans during and after their 2-1 loss to Caps United at Barbourfields Stadium last week.

The Bulawayo soccer giants and Caps United fans threw missiles during the match. After one of the incidents there was a 12-minute stoppage. Highlanders were represented by chairman Peter Dube, secretary-general Emmet Ndlovu and the chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede.

Officer Commanding Police Bulawayo West District chief superintendent Mbiko Kunene represented the law enforcement agents while the local authority sent three representatives only identified as Nkosi Siwela, Dube and Mathwasa.

Emerging after a two-hour meeting, Gumede said all parties strongly condemned hooliganism which had a negative impact on the club.

He declined to shed more light on resolutions of the meeting.

"We're going to issue a joint statement because the representatives from the police and city council first have to go and report back to their superiors before we make public our discussions," said Gumede.

"However, we were in consensus that crowd trouble compromises the club as it leads to us paying hefty fines, losing potential revenue as people might decide to stay home and scare away potential sponsors."

On their part, Highlanders resolved to resuscitate their marshals' wing, with club volunteers set to be deployed among fans and work hand in hand with the police to reprimand and identify troublemakers.

Highlanders are also considering banning identified hooligans from attending their matches and are calling for police to arrest and charge perpetrators of violence.

Also discussed at the meeting was devising ways of plugging loopholes that have led to fans smuggling alcohol into the stadium.

Gumede said they will be engaging in fan-education programmes in an effort to nip out the hooliganism bug from their followers.

"Part of fan educating includes using the public address system at the stadium reminding supporters on the dos and don'ts. They mustn't invade the playing field before, during or after the game. If they're genuine Highlanders fans, they must know that they're putting the club in trouble through such behaviour," he said.

Bosso will also be going around the city establishing cell groups or supporters' chapters whose members they hope will restrain peers who might want to engage in violent acts.