It’s a sin to be the away team in Africa

Mqondisi Dube | Tuesday March 12, 2024 08:25

Tanzania's Simba SC showed that in this day and age, the age old dirty tactic of bullying away teams is still alive with some brutal treatment dished to Jwaneng Galaxy.

It's not the first time that the Tanzanian club has been accused of using dirty means to intimidate their opponents on and off the pitch. Simba is also not the only club fond of using bullying tactics on opponents.

Travels to West and North Africa have always been dreaded.

The only sides that appear to use the ‘soft approach’ are southern Africans. They always play by the book and in most cases, always win or lose cleanly. But that is not the case with most countries or clubs. Not long ago, teams weaponised COVID-19. Key players were mysteriously declared positive so as to weaken opponents. COVID only accelerated an existing problem as shambolic treatment of away teams pre-dates the pandemic. With Patrice Motsepe’s CAF seemingly turning a blind eye on this crucial aspect of the game, teams are feeling more and more emboldened.

The sight of a poor Jwaneng Galaxy official being mercilessly chased around the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium does not belong to a game that is targeting a positive trajectory. You would only imagine such scenes deep in the jungles of a war-torn country, but alas, it was on the field of play in the 21st century.

CAF should lay down the marker and send an unambiguous message to teams that behave like a bull in a China shop. Yes, football is about rivalry, but that should be done within acceptable, clean standards. What was witnessed at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium last week is the reason why football in Africa will remain a family game by categorisation but in reality no one is prepared to take their child to witness a bloody brawl. Authorities in Cairo have an opportunity to end this enduring evil that has effectively criminalised being an away team in Africa.

Start with Simba! Don’t be afraid to throw out such rascals from competitions and hand heavy fines, including playing in an empty stadium. How do we advance the game of football on the continent with such lunacy still prevalent in our stadiums. Motsepe and your executive, take stern action.

Don’t even wait for a club to lodge a protest, the match commissioner’s report should be enough to spur you into action. Have standards that everyone will be held to. I know the standards are there in terms of the quality of accommodation, allowing the away team a feel of the match venue 24 hours before the contest, and other basic requirements. However, it seems some clubs have made it an irritating habit to pee on the very same rules they should abide by. Please CAF, nip this unruly behaviour in the bud.