Moses Mabhida pitch invasion not surprising: Analyst
A local football analyst says he was not surprised by the
violent pitch invasion at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium last night.
Benedict Ngwenya was at the stadium for the semi-final clash between Kaizer Chiefs and Free State Stars in Durban.
Angry supporters ran onto the field after the final whistle, assaulting several security guards. Fires were lit, TV cameras vandalised and stadium property damaged.
Kaizer Chiefs lost the match 2-0.
Ngwenya, who presents On the Ball on East Coast Breakfast, says the pitch invasion came as no surprise, as some spectators had already become unruly during the first-half of the match.
“During the half-time break, police officers were called upon to cordon off the tunnel area so the coach could safely walk into the dressing room. Fans started launching missiles onto the pitch because their team was down 2-0 at half-time. During the second half they started breaking the stadium chairs and throwing them onto the field,” he said.
Ngwenya says he waited inside the stadium before leaving, as protest action continued on the streets after the match.
“There was rubble on the road, you could tell there was violence outside the stadium as well. Fans were very angry. They were calling for Steve [Komphela] to fall,” he said.
Amakhosi announced after the match that Komphela had resigned as head coach with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, police say two suspects are due to appear in the Durban Magistrate's Court tomorrow on charges of public violence and malicious damage to property.