Barberton City Stars robbed of valuable points due to assault incident
Mkhabela used a beer bottle to injure Thobelani Shembe, who was on the bench at that moment.
Barberton City Stars’ attempt to register their first victory for the 2014/15 season was ruined after their Mpumalanga ABC Motsepe League clash against MP Highlanders on Saturday at the prison sports ground, had to be stopped due to unruly fan behaviour.
They were barely 76 minutes into the fame when Lucky “Maselesele” Mkhabela, who is attached to Teka-Teka which compete in the Ehlanzeni SAB Regional League, entered the soccer field and injured a Highlanders player.
The referee, Mandla Mahlalela had no choice but to take precautionary measures to protect the players by stopping the game. Mkhabela used a beer bottle to injure Thobelani Shembe, who was on the bench at that moment. Shembe was rushed to m’Africa Clinic and was discharged the same day.
The game was one-all at the time. Highlanders had taken a first-half lead through a goal scored by Shaka Manzini. Stars’ equalising goal came via the boot of Nhlanhla “Taribo” Bengu.
Mabobo Mhlanga, the home team’s spokesman said this behaviour was uncalled for taking into consideration that Mkhabela is also a registered player with the South African Football Association (Safa) Ehlanzeni himself.
“As a team, we still don’t understand his intention to injure the players. As a registered player of Safa himself, he is supposed to understand the rules governing the game. It is very sad that as a host team, we might be forfeited the three points because it was our duty to provide security,” said Mhlanga.
He said as a team, they hoped Safa would also take into consideration that the player was registered with the association and must be the one punished.
The game against Highlanders was their third this season. Ingucungucu are yet to taste victory. They played to a one-all draw against Easthigh Academy in their opening game at home and went on to play a goalless draw against Young Highlanders at Emalahleni Stadium.
Worse, their quest to reach the Nedbank Cup last 32 keep eluding them after they were bundled out in the last 16 of the provincial preliminary stages by eMzinoni All Stars 2-0.
This coming Saturday Stars will face a mammoth task of overcoming last season’s league runners-up, Phiva Young Stars when they visit them at KaMhlushwa Stadium. Kick-off is at 15:00.
