AS though being banned from playing their home games in Wusakile is not enough, Nkana will have to pay a K50,000 fine after being found guilty of another football crime.
The Kitwe giants have found themselves in conflict with football statutes following their role in crowd trouble that characterised Arthur Davies Stadium during the Kitwe derby in April.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) communications manager Sydeny Mungala has confirmed in a statement that Nkana will have to look elsewhere for their home games next season.
“The Disciplinary Committee of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has handed a season-long ban to Nkana Football Club following crowd trouble during the Week 31 MTN Super League match played on April 28 at Arthur Davies Stadium against Power Dynamos,” Mungala stated.
Following a complaint from FAZ and Power Dynamos, Nkana were afforded an opportunity to defend themselves but came short.
“Nkana Stadium is banned for hosting any match sanctioned by FAZ for the duration of 2023-2024 season. Furthermore, all matches sanctioned by FAZ against Nkana are to be played a minimum of 60 kilometres away from Nkana Stadium.
“The Committee having identified the Nkana FC as being so heavily and aggressively determined to conceal some of its fans as being violent, hence the club being accessory after the fact, would have in addition to the ban added a punitive fine but we are constrained as we feel the ban will deny the club some revenue and we hope that it will be sufficient remedy owing to the effect of the ban as it is traumatizing enough to induce reformation,” the verdict read in part.
It doesn’t end there for Nkana, they have another case against them.
“Nkana has also been fined K50, 000 for a violent incident that saw the stoning of Green Eagles striker Derrick Bulaya during a Week 30 match played at Nkana Stadium on April 26,” Mungala stated.
The committee has ordered the club to reimburse Derrick Bulaya for all the medical and associated costs relating to the treatment of the injuries sustained within 7 days of the Federation scrutinizing and approving the expenses.
“The Respondent is fined a sum of K50,000.00 for the misconduct of the unidentified aggressors in line with Article 51 of the Code and is directed to pay it to the Federation within 7 days of receipt of this Ruling. The Respondent is further ordered to play its next 10 home matches without spectators,” the ruling stated.
The club has through chief executive officer Kelvin Mutafu has said they will appeal.
(Mwebantu, Tuesday, 20th June, 2023)