Chaos at Mubs-KIU game
KIU team officials attend to their player Mbarushimana after he was hit on the head by an unknown fan. PHOTO BY AMINAH BABIRYE
University league
Yesterday’s result
Mubs 1-0 KIU
(Game abandoned in the 61st minute)
Today at 2pm
Nkumba vs. Kyambogo
(First leg ended 1-0 in favour of Kyambogo)
Soccer. The semifinal tie at Mubs aborted after host fans hit a KIU player.
KAMPALA. Violence is back in the University Football League (UFL).
Ugly scenes ensued yesterday as the second leg semifinal between Makerere University Business School (Mubs) and Kampala International University (KIU) aborted due to crowd violence at Nakawa.
After hosts Mubs took a 1-0 lead courtesy of Martin Bugembe’s 61st minute strike, fans stormed the pitch in celebration and injured KIU player Aziz Mbarushimana in the process.
Mbarushimana could be noticed down on the ground grimacing in pain as the fans left the pitch. He was hit on the head with an unknown object. Despite heavy police deployment, play couldn’t resume as KIU players and fans protested the incident and questioned the credibility of the match officials.
KIU captain Jeff Akabwai pleaded with his teammates to resume play in vain. Police then decided to escort KIU players and fans to their bus. Armed with stones and clubs, Mubs fans ambushed the KIU bus at the main entrance and hell broke loose. Police fired teargas and bullets, which dispersed the Mubs fans and created way for the visitors.
The bus was not damaged and there were no casualties reported but business in the surrounding areas came to a standstill.
The technical committee will make a ruling on the match soon but it is more likely the hosts will be penalised.
Previous chaotic scenes
2012: Nkumba vs. Kyambogo - Match ended prematurely in Entebbe when Police fired teargas to disperse rowdy fans with both scores at 1-all.
Kyambogo vs. Makerere
Trouble started after Makerere’s Kenny Talwiisa headed the ball into his net for Kyambogo’s second goal. That own goal thrilled Kyambogo fans with some of them storming the pitch in celebration. Enraged, Makerere fans reacted by attacking their opposites, hitting them with sticks and punches. Nkumba – Mubs
2013:Nkumba vs. Makerere University
Police shot in the air to disperse a group of violent Makerere fans who pelted Nkumba supporters with stones after their team lost 2-0.
