By KALUMIANA KALUMIANA –

THE Zambia Rugby Union (ZRU) has suspended three Kitwe Playing Fields (KPF) players including international Benaya Mukwamba for their role in attacking a match official in the club’s 6-3 loss to bitter rivals Diggers a week ago.
Also handed an indefinite ban together with Mukwamba are Patson Kasonde and influential star Fines Chikumbe.
The three will be suspended pending hearing for allegedly attacking referee Joseph Ingwe in a high tempered game.
According to a communique from ZRU General Secretary Francis Chitambo to all affiliates obtained yesterday, KPF players Mukwamba, Kasonde and Chikumbe have been found with a case to answer for allegedly attacking veteran referee Ingwe.
“We write to inform you that Benaya Mukwamba, Patson Kasonde and Fine Chikumbe have been suspended from all Rugby activities for attacking a match official until their case is disposed off,” Chitambo said.
The trio are alleged to have attacked controversial referee Ingwe on April 23 in KPF’s 6-3 home derby loss to Diggers.
And the trios’ suspension is a major setback for KPF as they host the two-day American Cup tournament that ends this afternoon in Kitwe.
Diggers and KPF have been bitter enemies with the rivalry worsened at the beginning of this year when KPF poached a large number of Diggers players including Mukwamba and Chikumbe after a row at Diggers.
To rub salt to injury, KPF got back the American tournament that Diggers has been hosting since 1999 when KPF went under with the relationship between the two side leading to boiling blood in the players.