POLICE HOLD ONE SUSPECT AS RED ARROWS CALL MUZA STUNTS CHEAP DESPERATION

By MICHAEL MIYOBA

Police are holding a 44-year-old man identified as Kachimbe Japeni for the offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. 

Japeni is alleged to have assaulted Muza FC goalkeeper Moonga Ndala aged 29 and Ernest Malambo aged 52 respectively during Saturday’s Super League fixture which was abandoned at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.

According to a statement issued by Danny Mwale, Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, the victims from Mazabuka are alleged to have been attacked by Japeni as they were coming from the dressing room to prepare for the second half of the match which had ended 1-1 at halftime.

“It is alleged that one of the security personnel for Red Arrows Football Club identified as Kachimbe Japeni attacked the goalkeeper of the visiting team by beating and pouring an unknown substance on his face. The suspect is also alleged to have beaten the visiting team coach.

“The victims sustained general body pains and medical report forms were issued for them to seek medical attention,” Mwale said.

“The container with some remains of the unknown substance was picked by Police to help with investigations.”

Meanwhile, Red Arrows has refuted and distanced itself from allegations by FC Muza and other media that the club was responsible for the abandonment of the match, when in fact, it was the visiting team that walked out of the pitch before the start of the second half.

Red Arrows Media Liaison and Public Relations Officer Misheck Kalembwe said the Airmen are disappointed that the match was prematurely abandoned on the advice of the Match Commissioner and his officiating team. 

Kalembwe said the club is yet to be furnished with a detailed report as to why the match officials decided to call off the game despite having passed all checklists to sanction the hosting of the said match. He also noted that the club learnt through social media that FC Musa reported a case of assault to the Police.

“As RAFC, we shall respectfully cooperate with the Police during investigations into the alleged assault. Nevertheless, we find the allegations and subsequent report made at the Police Station by FC Muza as an act of cheap desperation to attract public sympathy because Police Officers assigned to manage the game on the ground did not record and arrest anyone for assault,” the statement said.