COLUMN: Shameful Sundowns supporters
The despicable scene that played itself out recently at the Lucas Moripe Stadium precinct ahead of the CAF Champions League quarter finals second leg match between Mamelodi Sundowns and their Egyptian opponents Al Ahly, must be condemned for what it is – appalling and revolting.
At the time of going to print the top hierarchy of the Chloorklop-based 2015 CAF Champions league winners had not issued any sort of apology because such acts do not belong to the era we now live in – its outright barbaric and uncouth. I hear some say it is a football culture to intimidate and play any sort of mind-games to unsettle opponents but it still remains an uncivilised manner to ruffle the feathers of the opposition.
In 2010 the Real Madrid team bus was stoned by some radical Barcelona fans. Its an incident that left one window shattered and no was injured but Madrid would go on to lose 5-0 in that match.
It is one of the many instances the world over that incident reared its head. It is common cause that coaches, just like players, will move from club to club and the sooner fans realise these men and women are at work, eager to secure for their future and those of their families, the better. Cristiano Ronaldo was a cult figure at Manchester United but even when he joined Real Madrid and found himself at Old Trafford, the home fans never booed him perhaps as a way to unsettle him but rather saluted their erstwhile hero who had guided them to three league crowns, one UEFA Champions League medal and a Fifa Club World Cup title among many other silverware during his time at Old Trafford.
What we witnessed was behaviour of fanatics who are probably hanging by the skin of their teeth to being extremists. The high level of belief in their teams ultimately turns to violence. Pitso Mosimane specifically was violated by some zealots camouflaged as Sundowns fans.
