By Sheldon Hakata

IN football, fans are the force that makes the sport the beauty that it is.
They provide the colour, the flair that culminates in beautiful memories in soccer matches.
Fans share a solid bond with their teams.
Providing support, they make noise in a passionate and creative way.
They nourish the game, feeding it with the euphoria that drives soccer matches.
Using flags, regalia, drums and other musical instruments like trumpets/vuvuzelas they spur their teams to success.
The most creative paint their bodies in the colours of their teams.
Bays have been labeled according to teams, for instance, at Rufaro Stadium, Dynamos occupy the ‘Vietnam Stand’ while CAPS United go to the Northern Bay.
Highlanders supporters have a bay named Soweto at Barbourfields Stadium.
It is the norm at all other stadiums.
Clearly, being a fan is much more than standing or sitting on the terraces singing your heart out in support of a beloved team.
It is being part of a huge family where everyone comes together to celebrate their love for the beautiful game.
Supporters’ clubs are responsible for creating the intimidating raucous atmosphere that makes the stadium a fortress that opposition teams fear to visit.
Big teams like Dynamos, CAPS United and Highlanders, enjoy the greatest support base in Zimbabwe.
There have recognised supporters’ clubs all over the country.
These clubs have been created using supporters’ own resources.
Club Supporters Associations are now formal organisations with structures countrywide.
Strategic plans are crafted with committees and chapters created.
The national committee supervises chapters and is comprised of a president, national secretary, national treasurer and organising secretary with all chapter chairpersons sitting as committee members.
Fans have time and again come together to raise money to support their teams in difficult times.
But there is a flip side to the beauty of supporters.
They can in an instant turn from the passionate creatures that they are into destructive hooligans.
There are many incidences where matches have been abandoned because of crowd trouble.
At the slightest of provocations, opposition supporters can be attacked before, during or after the match.
Coaches, too, are rarely spared from the fans’ fury.
Many times they have been abused by supporters after the match when a team does not produce the desired result.
Most recently, a local coach was abused by fans. FC Platinum fans abused their coach Norman Mapeza last Saturday following a 1-1 draw between their team and CAPS United at Mandava Stadium.
After taking the lead, The Green Machine (Caps United) got a late equaliser.
Angered by the painful draw, FC Platinum fans called Mapeza all sorts of names, threatening to beat him up.
Highlanders have had a difficult season in the league and would have hoped to mount a serious run in the Chibuku Super Cup when they faced Harare City in a first round encounter.
However, the match was marred by violence.
Harare City supporters were brutally attacked by marauding Highlanders supporters during the Chibuku Super Cup first round match at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane.
The match was stopped for 13 minutes after Highlanders (Bosso) fans attacked (Harare City) Sunshine Boys supporters, who sought refuge on the field of play.
Such situations can be avoided if soccer fans are educated on the value of behaving well in good and bad times.
Violence targeting referees is rife in Division Two — occurring almost on a weekly basis.
The latest incident was at GMB Aspindale in a match pitting Big Five Football Club and University of Zimbabwe Football Club.
The referee was mobbed by Big Five supporters after he ended the match.
The home team, Big Five, was disappointed that they had not won the match which ended 1-1.
The poor referee, who had no part in the failure by the team was slapped and had to run for dear life.
On a number of occasions, fans have thrown missiles onto the pitch during play to show disapproval of some decisions by the referee or coach.
The fans are indeed an important constituency in football.
Highlanders destroyed title-chasing Chicken Inn at Barboufields but despite the win, Highlanders coach, Elroy Akbay was not happy with fans’ attendance.
“I am hurt because fans missed total football and that was very bad. They must have come and filled the stadium and enjoyed the football. They must always fill Barbourfields and support their team,” said Akbay.
For the first time, Dynamos fans were supporting their arch-rivals, Bosso, from the Mpilo end of Barbourfields Stadium.
They could be heard singing Highlanders songs and saluting the veteran Ralph ‘Banolila’ Matema who used his experience over Chicken Inn.
Fans will go to any length in ensuring the good ‘health’ of their team.
Highlanders victory over Chicken Inn increased Dynamos prospects of clinching the league title.
Without doubt, supporters, often referred to as the 12th man, are morale boosters who carry teams, especially when the chips are down.