By Millennium Reporter
Nkana Football Club has reportedly been handed a shock demotion to the Copperbelt Provincial League and fined $100,000 following violent conduct by its supporters and players during a Week 32 Zambia Super League match against Power Dynamos at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
The Kitwe Derby descended into chaos after a penalty was awarded to Power Dynamos, prompting violent protests by Nkana fans who destroyed stadium seats and attacked match officials.
According to a ruling issued by the Disciplinary Committee of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), and seen by Millennium Radio, Nkana was found guilty of multiple offences including violent conduct, vandalism, team misconduct, and provoking the general public.
The Committee noted that neither player nor club provided a sufficient defense, relying instead on corroborating evidence from the referee’s report and Nkana’s own exculpatory submission.
Nkana players Clement Mwape and Idriss Mbombo were each fined K20,000 and handed bans under Article 11(f) of the FAZ Disciplinary Code.
As part of the sanction, Nkana is required to play all home games behind closed doors during their period in the lower league.
The club must also repair the damaged sections of Levy Mwanawasa Stadium within 45 days, failure to which the demotion will be rendered permanent.
Additionally, no FAZ-sanctioned matches including future Kitwe Derby fixtures will be allowed at Nkana Stadium or Arthur Davies Stadium unless hosted at venues with a minimum seating capacity of 30,000.
The Committee described the sanctions as “punitive but reformative,” adding that individuals identified and arrested for the violence will receive lifetime bans from all FAZ and Zambia Premier League (ZPL) matches.
Meanwhile, Kabwe Warriors midfielder Clement Mundia has been banned from all football activities for 12 months and fined K10,000 after an incident in their Week 32 match against NAPSA Stars at Woodlands Stadium, where Warriors players and officials aggressively confronted a match official following a disallowed goal.
Three other players Mwamba Mutombo and Ian Kambambanya were banned for 12 months and fined K5,000 each, while Charles Sichilima and Boston Mwanza received five-match suspensions and K10,000 fines.
The Committee noted these players showed remorse in their exculpatory letters, which served as mitigating factors.
However, Chintu Kampamba, Akakulubelwa Mwachiyaba, Killian Kanguluma, Jimmy Ndhlovu, Derrick Mulenga, Tinklar Sinkala, and Timothy Sakala were all acquitted due to insufficient evidence of misconduct.
Kabwe Warriors Football Club was also found guilty of failing to identify two individuals, suspected to be from the technical bench, who wore black track pants and confronted the referee.
The club was fined K50,000 under Article 51 for this lapse in discipline and oversight.
FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga, when contacted for comment, stated that the judgment had been recalled, describing it as incorrect.
Kamanga has urged the public not to rely on a ruling that had not been officially finalized or made public.
