Charles Nyende
29 June 2011
Nairobi — In a first for Kenyan football, a club is helping in the search and apprehension of a known hooligan to be subsequently charged with assault during a match.
AFC Leopards assistant secretary Geoffrey Mulanya on Wednesday said they had hired a private investigator to help track down Frankline Maloba aka Mlandege, identified as the fan who assaulted match officials during a violence-marred KPL tie involving the club and Thika United.
“We want to redeem the name of the club. Soccer does not condone such acts. Football is a beautiful game and we want to completely dissociate it from hooliganism,” Mulanya said. “When we track him down we will hand him over to the police. The law must take its cause.”
The noose is already tightening on Mlandege, who was captured on camera brazenly beating up assistant referee Walter Ondiege during the troubled KPL match at Mumias Sugar Sports Complex on May 8.
the Independent Disciplinary and Complaints Committee on Wednesday ordered Leopards to identify the fan and assist in getting him arrested to face criminal charges.
In blacklist
IDCC also banned the violent fan from attending any KPL match for six months.
“We know this fan and he is a troublesome fellow. He is in our blacklist of four AFC Leopards and six Gor Mahia fans we do not want in stadiums,” Kenya Football Fans Association chairman Joash Amukuyia said.
“We will monitor them and ensure they do not attend matches.
A member of Club of Leopards Active and Wise Supporters (Claus), a support club, said anonymously: “After what he (Mlandege) did in Mumias we told him it was backward and he should stay away from AFC matches.”
Mlandege is said to be based in western Kenya. The Nation managed to the trace him on phone but no sooner had this writer identified himself than the fan cut the connection.
Mlandege and his ilk have cost Leopards quite a few pennies. IDCC fined the club Sh150,000, to be paid within 30 days, for the chaos.
Leopards, who denounced and regretted the crowd trouble, have already adopted measures to help in arresting acts of hooliganism.
These include appointing stewards to provide security during matches, establishing an apparatus to help identify known troublemakers and banning them from stadiums, as well as helping the Police to apprehend violent fans.
AllAfrica – All the Time
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Kenya: Club Sets the Hounds On ‘Mlandege’