The ManicaPost
Fungayi Munyoro Sports Correspondent
BUFFALOES FC defender Shepherd Nkata has been slapped with a 6-months suspension from the game after a violent confrontation with the referees when the army side lost 2-1 away to Greenfuels a fort-night ago.
Nkata, together with Lloyd Katongomara lost their tempers and attacked the match officials soon after the game. Katongomara has been suspended for two games while the club was fined $5 000 with $3000 suspended on condition that the army side would not commit a similar offence until 2023.
The fracas started when Birchenough based referee Jimmy Dzingai awarded a penalty to Greenfuels in the 16th minute and it did not down well with Buffaloes players and the technical team leading to protests that stopped the game for four minutes.
Buffaloes equalised after two minutes before Greenfuels scored the winning goal in the 40th minute, making it 2-1. After sensing danger, Dzingai blew the final whistle while he was at the touch line for safety reasons. The two, chased him to the dressing room where he locked himself. They went on to damage the changing room door, showers and part of the perimeter fence. The referees had to escape through the window. Police was called in to intervene.
Nkata was once fingered in the violence that happened in 2015 when Buffaloes played Tenax at Sakubva stadium.
Zifa Eastern Region secretary Wisdom Simba confirmed the incident.
“We found Buffaloes FC guilty of violent conduct rule, sub regulation 4:6 of the Zifa Eastern Region. The club has to pay $5 000 with $3 000 suspended on condition that they will not commit the same offence until 2023. According to the match commissioner’s report, Shepherd Nkata and Lloyd Katongomara were the players who were on the forefront of attacking the referees. Nkata will not play for six months while Katongomara will serve a two game suspension. Nkata is not a first time offender so he has to serve a long term,” said Simba.
Simba condemned the violent act.
“As Zifa, we would like to condemn in strongest terms the violent attack on the referee and damage of property. Violence is not allowed in football. Players and technical staff must desist from taking law into their own hands. If they are not happy, they have to use proper channels,” he added.
Buffaloes failed to attended the disciplinary hearing in Masvingo. Reached for comment, Buffaloes FC organising secretary Aaron Dzvete said, they could not attend the hearing since they were given a short notice.
“We could not attend the hearing because it was a short notice. As for how it happened, I am not sure. I noticed the commotion, referee blew to end the game when he was almost close to exit and he went straight into the dressing room. I later saw Nkata being dragged by the police office I quickly intervenedas my guys were trying to free him but the officer kept holding until his jersey was torn. As the tussling continued, local security officers reinforced with dog handlers,” he said.
Nkata could not be reached for comment.
