A local football team, Musina United, has made a passionate appeal to donors to help renovate and improve the security at its clubhouse in Musina, where players from outside the town are accommodated during match preparations. This appeal comes after 16 of its members were robbed last Wednesday night (2 October).
The players were camping at the clubhouse ahead of a friendly match against Munaca Football Club. The match was scheduled for the following day at the Makhado Show Grounds' field in Louis Trichardt.
Ms Lorein Phathutshedzo Masindi, Musina United's team secretary, explained that on the night of the robbery, the players were watching soccer. They were interrupted when a group of three armed men - carrying a gun, an electric shocker, and an iron bar - forced their way through the door of the clubhouse. The robbers demanded cell phones, sneakers, football jerseys, and money from the players. Those who delayed handing over their possessions were met with violent blows. According to Masindi, the police responded promptly, but the robbers had already fled by the time they arrived.
When asked whether the incident would affect the team's performance during the friendly match, Masindi noted that the management had provided counselling to the players and believed the incident would not impact their performance.
However, one of the players, speaking to Limpopo Mirror, said that they were traumatised and did not play to their usual standard. "We lost our focus due to the previous day's incident," he said. Musina United lost the match 1-0.
The club's management is planning to compensate the players for the stolen items if they are not recovered by the police. Meanwhile, the police confirmed that they are investigating a house robbery. "No one was hurt, and no shots were fired. The suspects are still at large, and nothing has yet been recovered," said W/O Vuledzani Dathi, the SAPS spokesperson in Vhembe.