IT'S been said repeatedly, particularly in this column, that the escalating violence in Bermuda is not a football problem but a social problem.

And while that still appears to be the case there's no denying that there is some connection between gang warfare and certain clubs, although that shouldn't be interpreted as the fault of the club. They have little control over those who support them.

Rightly or wrongly, Boulevard and Devonshire Cougars seem to be two of the clubs that have been singled out.

Cougars player Shaki Minors, and his girlfriend Renee Kuchler, have become the latest gun-slinging victims.

Boulevard might be top of the table but they aren't top of the popularity stakes – and that has little to do with their officials or the majority of their players.

There is simply a perception that wherever Boulevard travel there might be trouble. And that's why the club have encountered difficulty this season in finding a permanent home.

In the past, and to some extent even now, Cougars have been labelled as the 'bad boys' of local football. They have huge support but the Rastafarian connection has given the impression that the club turns a blind eye to drug-use.

That may well be an unfair accusation but regardless it does exist.

Yet this past weekend both Cougars and Boulevard took a brave stance that hopefully every other club on the Island will follow.

During Sunday's match at BAA Field between the two urban rivals, a campaign was launched to 'stop the violence'.

Several of those connected to the two teams wore T-shirts with the words 'One Love, One Community' emblazoned on the front and 'Peace, Stop the Violence' on the back.

The message was loud and clear: 'Bermuda has had enough'. And football must play its part in finding a solution.

Cougars executive Craig Clarke is responsible for the campaign and he was probably speaking for more than 90 percent of the population when he said: " . . .enough is enough, and the people in this community are tired.

"Bermuda's become a victim of its own success because we've spent so much time chasing the international dollar that we've forgotten our own. . .

"We need to invest in our community clubs because community clubs are the pulse of this community."

For Cougars and Boulevard to not only endorse that message but to instigate a movement which will hopefully prove to be the first meaningful step towards 'gang peace', says much about the courage of those two clubs and their officials.

What they need now is the backing of every other club, and for those clubs to throw their full weight behind the efforts to curb the escalating violence.

Football itself might not be the problem, but the entire football family can play a major part in identifying the culprits and ensuring that justice is served.

That family can take a leading role as peacemaker in this gang war.

As Public Safety and Home Affairs Minister David Burch pointed out earlier this week, the latest shooting outside the Southside cinema in St. David's was witnessed by as many as 200 people. So far, not one of them has stepped forward to help with the inquiry, presumably because they fear for their own safety.

Yet for every gang member there are probably between three or four hundred football fans.

If every fan from every club were to join forces and help weed out the troublemakers they could be ten times more effective than a police investigation which is stalling.

Cougars and Boulevard have shown this courage.

If Bermuda Football Association and every one of their affiliates were to follow suit, there's a chance we'd see a dramatic decrease in the violence that Bermuda is currently experiencing.

Clarke and his associates are to be commended. They have launched an important initiative but it will be in vain unless the rest of the community come on board.

Buying and wearing those T-shirts should deliver a strong message.

- ADRIAN ROBSON