There was drama at Kalambo grounds on Saturday in a local derby game involving Zesco Chipata and Prison Leopards of Chipata in their FAZ Eastern Province Division one week 21 match as ZESCO Chipata head coach Esau Chalo Zulu allegedly fired eight rounds of gunshots after the game ended one-nil in favor of Prison Leopards.
It is reported that Prison Leopards of Chipata executives have since reported the matter to the police.
And FAZ Eastern Province Chairman Mr. Chrispin Kamuna confirmed to the ZamFoot Crew that Eastern FAZ has also taken administrative steps to address the matter and they have given Chalo Zulu seven days to exculpate himself as to why the Association should not take any disciplinary action against him. To protect the image of the game and the lives of players, Officials, fans, and football followers at large, the association has asked Zulu to stay away from the ZESCO Chipata technical bench.
ZESCO Chipata technical advisor Mr. Banda Chibisa confirmed the development after the game had ended. According to Mr. Chibisa’s claim in his report, he said,
“Prison Leopards playing pitch had no security officers. After the game had ended there was a lot of commotion among Zesco and Leopards spectators which forced the head coach to fire gunshots in the air to disperse the crowd which was heading towards the team’s vehicle. This was to protect the vehicle from being stoned by fans.”
Since this matter has been reported to the police criminal proceedings and investigations will be instituted against the erring official as carrying a gun and using it in public and threatening violence is a very serious offense.
The news Crew also understands that Zulu was summoned by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) section at Chipata Central Police Station. On the part of the Eastern Province Football Association, the Chairman reiterated the fact that the conduct exhibited by Mr. Esau Zulu, if true, attracts the revocation of the articles in the FAZ, CAF & FIFA statutes relating to values, integrity, and conduct of FAZ members.
Kamuna has sounded a warning to all those officials who are on record and have a habit of causing mayhem during matches to take this as a timely caution. This includes the reports of continued harassment of the match officials.
Football is a happy game and should always be a unifying factor among the people. Whilst the competition evokes high levels of emotions he has called on officials and spectators to conduct themselves in a manner that is acceptable and avoid bringing the name of the game into disrepute.
