Rowdy Villa fans inflict Shs10m loss onto St Mary's stadium
Rival fans fight at St. Mary's Stadium Kitende on Saturday. Photo by Ismail Kezaala.
KAMPALA- A rough estimate puts it to Shs10 million, the cost incurred by Vipers management after charged SC Villa fans broke down a section of the St Mary's Stadium in Kitende on Saturday during the 1-0 league loss.
If the police, deployed in dozens, were proactive, the stadium would have remained intact.
They reluctantly let Villa fans sit on top of the metallic fence close to the gate section and insult Vipers fans, including the Vuvuzela blowing Joseph ‘Kamodo’ Muwonge – who has since switched camps from the Joogo outfit, even way before the game - a sign of crowds willing to go the extremes if 'provoked'.
Then came the goal, 30 minutes into the game, which threw the violent visiting fans into further paranoia. When referee Alex Muhabi ignored what they branded as a genuine Villa penalty at the stroke of halftime, the uncontrolled fans went riot throwing bottles and stones in the direction of the VIP wing.
The presence of Buganda Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga in the glass VVIP box meant heavy military beefing which stopped a possible carnage had both sections of fans met the provocation with force after the fence went down.
Little wonder, the students in the VIP stand were told to move back to the school-end at halftime.
Security expert, Mr Dickson 'Bond' Okello tried to calm down Villa fans but he was overwhelmed as a police that carries more authority, or so we thought, remained unbothered.
No one wants a muted stadium and Villa captain Bernard Muwanga was impeccable when he tactfully declined from condemning the filthy acts of their supporters; "I didn't see what the fans were doing. It is hard to concentrate on fans and the game."
Granted, but while he could have been the only one not seeing, hooliganism is a matter that calls for more retrospective action from Fufa and the Police.
The well-attended game might have raked in a handsome gate collection for Vipers but the act of destruction sets club owner Lawrence Mulindwa, many steps back in his ambitious plan to complete the 20,000 capacity stadium in two years time.
