The provincial Nedbank Cup semifinal game between Magezi FC and Bellevue Winners Park at the Giyani Stadium was not played to the finish. According to the referee who was officiating the game, Mr Eric "Khathikhathi" Munyai, "it was clear from the start that something unusual was going to happen."
Munyai said that a group of people shouted abusive words towards the officials before the game started as soon as they realized who was going to officiate in the game. No goal was seen during the first half, despite the fact that Winners Park had a number of obvious scoring opportunities.
According to Munyai, the situation took an ugly turn when they were on their way back to the pitch from the dressing room after the half-time break. He said a group of fans approached them in anger, accusing them of favoritism.
He further indicated that the fans went straight to one of his assistants, Mr Israel Rikhotso, and assaulted him with their bare hands. Realizing that it was possible that the group might come for him and the other assistant after finishing with Rikhotso, Munyai decided to blow the final whistle and went back to the dressing room, together with his assistants.
In an interview with Limpopo Mirror, Munyai said that he had called the game off after realizing that his life and those of his assistants were in danger. When asked as to whether he knew which team the fans supported, he said that it was clear from their utterances that they were from Bellevue. He revealed that the fans had accused Rikhotso of denying Winners Park a penalty in the opening minutes of the game.
The provincial secretary of the league, Mr Patrick Seema, was still waiting for the match reports from the clubs and the match officials at the time of our going to press.