23 SUPPORTERS OF an Angolan premier league football team died and 29 others were injured when their speeding bus crashed after a game, state media has reported today.

The bus carrying 70 Kabuscorp fans crashed in the southern province Kwanza-Sul around 600 kilometres from the capital Luanda on Saturday night, according to the Jornal de Angola.

Kabuscorp president Bento Kangamba said: “I am distraught and sad. The place where the accident took place is very dangerous and the driver was young and he was probably speeding.”

Their team had been beaten 2-0 by hosts Libolo in the national championship.

The victims were employed by a security company hired by Kabuscorp.

Based in Luanda, the club belongs to Angolan entrepreneur Bento Kangamba, who has links with the ruling MPLA party.

President Jose Eduardo dos Santos expressed “deep sadness” at the accident, in a statement.

Kabuscorp made it into several media reports last year under better circumstances when they signed former Brazil and Barcelona player Rivaldo.

The 40-year-old attacking midfielder took to Twitter on Sunday when he learned of the news.

Road accidents are the second-highest cause of death in the oil-rich southern African nation after malaria.

In May last year, 42 opposition Unita party supporters died in an accident in the same area.

- © AFP, 2012

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