Paul Mundandi Sports Correspondent
FOOTBALLERS Union of Zimbabwe (Fuz) vice-president Herbert Dick has voiced his concern over violent disturbances that engulfed Barbourfields last Sunday, saying fans must show players more respect.
“We have never been to the fans’ workplaces to throw stones, sing derogatory songs and fight the police to cause any sort of trouble.
“We respect them so they must do the same.
“When they come to stadiums, which are our workplaces, they have no right to enter the pitch and neither do they have the right to throw missiles into our workplace,” said Dick.
“I feel fans lack respect for our work. We do not condone what happened at Barbourfields and it was very unfortunate incident.
“We do not know the motives of some fans and the fortunate thing is that none of our players were injured,” he said.
Dick said most players are not insured and it would be a tragedy if they suffered permanent injury during such disturbances.
“They are the same fans that laugh at us again saying footballers are reckless with earnings when things get tough for us.
“I will not teach anyone to support, but they must try to watch games from other countries and see how football is supported.
“In South Africa you do not see police officers on the pitch, there will be marshals and they are well respected.
“All who took part in the violence should be jailed and banned from football. I, however, feel that it could have been a grudge between kombi drivers, touts and the police.
“I do not think genuine Highlanders fans would do that,” Dick said. He also took a swipe at some clubs for not respecting Fuz.
“We are not allowed entry into stadiums, but we are the owners of the game. We only encounter this problem with Bulawayo teams.
The PSL has been promising to give us access cards, but the season is about to end and we are yet to receive them.
“I just want to remind people that we deserve respect, it’s our game. We are the owners and we are surprised when some take us as enemies.
We are just here to fight for the rights of players.”