Hooliganism cannot be part of the beautiful game.

If my memory serves me well, not long ago ZRP was allocated some state-of-the-art helicopters to assist in their policing duties which at times can be quite challenging.

One would think those could have come  handy in crowd control at Barbourfields in Bulawayo where Highlanders and Dynamos locked heads in what was promising to be a thriller, only for the game to be stopped midway because of hooliganism.

A bird's eye view from the choppers would have shown the 'coppers' the epicenter of the mayhem and scared the rogue elements away. Picking those bent on causing chaos and throwing an array of 'missiles' would have been easy but the outnumbered and out 'missiled'  ZRP officers had a torrid time and some could be seen running away.

Soccer is supposed to be a 'beautiful game', not the pandemonium that was show-cased at Barbour fields. In its splendor and lighter moments, Maradona would score with his hand, Chunga would stand on the ball and Pele would say it's a beautiful game.

Also, knowing the ages old rivalry between Daynamos and Highlanders, ZRP is quite privy to what goes on there and what's in waiting. The police should have dispatched quite a swelling of the force, a deterrence on sight and site. Next time the two teams should be made to play at some outer stadium than exposing the innocent public to  'mutoriro' dazed elements.

In some countries those arrested end up being banned from attending any soccer matches, thus sending a strong message  to those bent on fomenting trouble. We have just emerged from a ban in participating internationally, and now, we are in the press and all for soccer hooliganism. Alas?

Thomas Murisa. Mash. Central.