By Gael Masengi
 |
| Congolese fans |
As requested by the Confederation of
African Football (CAF) to the Local Organising Committee, the needs of a safe
and secured Africa Cup of Nations 2013 have seemingly been met. The continental football governing body, CAF
had expressed worries over security at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium after two
Congolese fans ran onto the pitch during a skilled group B encounter between
Ghana and the DRC last Sunday.
“At the 55th minute, a Congolese
spectator managed to enter the field of play,” said the confederation in a
statement released this past Tuesday on its website, “The same incident was
repeated at the 65th minute when another Congolese fan entered and
ran in the field of play.”
CAF’s disciplinary board then decided to address
a warning letter to the L.O.C in demand of a much secured Port Elisabeth based
group B home turf and cautioning as well the Democratic republic of Congo
following their fans’ hooliganism behaviour.
According to eye-witnesses present that day
at the stadium, one told Gael-On-Media that one of the two fans who ran onto
the pitch was carrying a poster bearing the face of popular Congolese
politician Etienne Tshisekedi. Tshi-Tshi as commonly known by his countless
supporters lost the controversial 2011 presidential election to Joseph Kabila, subsequently
declared himself as the legitimate winner.
Asked if he may know why the
exciting fan did enter the pitch; “I
guess he was thrilled as anybody else, from 2-null to 2-2” he said
“You
didn’t get to see it on TV because it clearly was censured” said another
Congolese fan “on our side; we came to
support the national team but also to show our frustration to the world against
that man in power, the incompetent imposter you call Joseph Kabila”
The law-breaking fan was escorted out of
the field of play after tumbling on slippery grass and briefly detained to a
nearby local police station; he is yet to appear in court.
A significant presence of orange-wearing security
stewards could be observed throughout the misfortunate draw game against a
not-so-easy Niger side, keeping a watchful eye on strong Congolese crowd. The
DRC will face Mali on Monday in their last group match at
Moses Mabhida Stadium in the coastal city of Durban.
No comments:
Post a Comment