IRH Warns Nkana Supporters: “We Won’t Tolerate Violence”

Mopani Copper Mines PLC’s majority shareholder, International Resources Holding (IRH), has issued a stern warning to Nkana Football Club supporters, stressing that acts of violence and poor behavior at football matches will not be tolerated.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day Mindset Change Workshop for Nkana supporters held at the People Growth Centre (PGC) at Mindola Dam in Kitwe, IRH Director of Operations, Gareth Taylor, made it clear that both IRH and Mopani Copper Mines expect responsible and peaceful conduct from the club’s fan base.

In his remarks, Taylor emphasized the importance of teamwork, discipline, and positive community leadership, calling on supporters to actively reject violence and to hold each other accountable.

“Violence and bad behavior is not acceptable. It should not be acceptable to you, and it is certainly not acceptable to Mopani,” Taylor said. “As the representative of IRH from Abu Dhabi, I can tell you, we will not tolerate it. We will not be part of it.”

Taylor acknowledged the difficulty of managing large crowds of passionate supporters but stressed that it is possible to create a culture of self-discipline within the group. He encouraged the fans to form a support system that can help prevent disruptive behavior at matches.

“When one or a group of people in that 10,000 start misbehaving, the group must control it. The group must say no, that’s not acceptable behavior. You use the power of the group.”

Taylor further highlighted the role of supporters in building a positive environment that protects everyone, including players, referees, and fellow fans.

“Ultimately, we will not support violence and poor behavior. This is a very stern warning that this behavior must be fixed and must not be repeated.”

In a lighter moment, Taylor also expressed his disappointment that Nkana had dropped from first to third place on the league table but urged supporters to rally behind the team and drive them to greater success next season. He also teased the upcoming IRH-Mopani Challenge Cup, an event he said would unite football communities.

“We understand the value of the supporters in our community, and we want our communities to be happy. It’s a long journey, but we must do it together.”

The mindset change workshop is part of Mopani Copper Mines’ broader efforts to instill discipline, unity, and community values among Nkana supporters following a series of concerns over fan violence in recent games.