CECILIA ZULU reports:
THE Zambia Schools Sports Association (ZASSA) has banned Mwata Day Secondary School and a teacher only identified as Simuvwimbi for three years each for violent behaviour.
Mwata Day players and officials on Friday assaulted referee Peter Mutambo whom they accused of favouring Chongwe during the Copa Coca-Cola National Schools Championship semi-final match that the latter won 2-1 at Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka.
ZASSA president Chipangano Tembo confirmed the suspension in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.
Tembo said Mwata Day could have lodged in a complaint to organisers if they were not happy with Mutambo’s officiating instead of taking the law into their hands.
“That behaviour is uncalled for. It is good that they pleaded guilty to the offence. We have made it very clear that no school or officials should involve themselves in such misconduct no matter what happens. This should save as a lesson to others.
“They [Mwata Day] have been sent home. They will leave with nothing not even the jerseys they used to wear. They will not be given any transport refund and they will go back the same way they came. That is the reward for them,” he said.
The Southern Province pupils led by Simuvwimbi and other officials pounced on Mutambo after the final whistle accusing him of favouring Chongwe.
Mutambo sent two Mwata Day players for an early shower for unsportsmanship behaviour, decisions that annoyed them.
Mutambo was only rescued by ZASSA officials.
With the suspension of Mwata, Mpika Day of Muchinga Province finished third and pocketed K7, 500.
Efforts to get Mwata Day officials could not materialise.