Nkana FC Held Responsible for Stadium Vandalism After Kitwe Derby Chaos

Nkana Football Club has been held accountable for the damage done to 506 seats during the Kitwe derby, according to Minister of Sports Elvis Nkandu.

This was revealed when the minister called an urgent meeting consisting of the Zambia Premier League, Absa Bank Zambia, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), the National Sports Council of Zambia, and officials from ZESCO United, Power Dynamos, Red Arrows, and Nkana Football Club.

During the Kitwe derby between Nkana and Power Dynamos at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, there were regrettable instances of vandalism and hooliganism that made the meeting necessary.

Red Arrows will play Power Dynamos in the early kickoff of Saturday’s 2025 Absa Cup semifinal doubleheader at the stadium, followed by Nkana vs ZESCO United at 15:00.

According to a statement released by the Ministry, Nkana Football Club have also been directed to cover the cost of repairing the 2,300 seats that had previously been damaged, as part of their overall duty to maintain the sporting facilities.

Meanwhile, the ministry has announced that it has implemented measures to prevent any more vandalism and hooliganism during Saturday’s Absa Cup semifinals.

To ensure safety at the venue, security has been reinforced by over 300 personnel who will be deployed to prevent further disorderly conduct.

 Furthermore, restrictions will be enforced on the types of alcohol containers allowed. However, alcohol sales will not be completely prohibited; only plastic cups will be allowed inside the stadium. Bottles and cans are strictly prohibited due to safety concerns.

In the long term, CCTV systems will be installed to assist in identifying and deterring misconduct. These systems will be important for reviewing matches after they end and evaluating security.