It looks like many soccer teams that come to play in Arusha no longer seem to differentiate between a football and boxing clash.
As a result, a game that pitted the estranged Arusha Football Club (AFC) against JKT Rwamkoma from Mara turned into a fist-exchanging pandemonium.
Despite running short of players, AFC fielded 11 players (though again without substitutes) after much coaxing as many were still in boycott, demanding their overdue pay.
However, the ailing Arushabased team drew one-all with a better equipped National Service (JKT) Rwankoma squad. JKT’s goal was scored by Kelvin Mwakilasa, while AFC equalised through Athuman Ponda.
The Second Division League match had, therefore, to go into extra time and it was during this period when all hell broke loose.
JKT Rwamkoma’s Shafii Maganga played rough, prompting referee Korona Kabwe to issue him with a red card but the entire Mara squad descended onto the pitch ready to beat him.
It was like watching a comedy film as the referee ran for his life around the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium with some irate JKT guys in hot pursuit, causing the match to break up and spectators joining the fray.
JKT Rwamkoma coach Hassan Makame chose to chase assistant referee Enock Mwanyongwa across the pitch and soon the entire venue was transformed into a chaotic bowl, causing mayhem and deafening noise.
Seeing the situation has become dangerous, other match officials ran and locked themselves inside the stadium offices, refusing to either open the doors, or get out until their safety was assured.
Outside, many people were reported hurt from the ordeal. Match commissioner Mohammed Abubakar said all he can do was report the incident to the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF). It is still not known whether the match will be replayed or not.
By YASINTA AMOS, Tanzania Daily News