Football fans in Chiengi District, Zambia are alleging witchcraft after a freak blast of lightning struck dead five members of a local football team called Chilondo Football Club.

Acting Police Spokesperson Danny Mwale revealed in a statement that the victims were hired to cultivate a piece of land in order to raise funds at Chikalipa Village and were struck by lightning while seeking refuge under a Mango tree after it started raining.

Mwale in a statement identified the deceased as Jackson Kabwe aged 20, Seleman Kapembwa aged 19, Joe Chansa aged 19, Mpundu Nasri aged 16, and Joe Katai 17 years old.

“Investigations revealed that the victims belonged to a local football team known as Chilondo Football Club (aka Barcelona) and were hired to cultivate a piece of land in order to raise funds at Chikalipa Village. Before they finished working, rain started and the eight players went to seek refuge under a mango tree were lightning struck killing the Five on the spot,” Mwale said.

He said the bodies of the deceased were lying Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem.