NPL left in the shadows

LIMBA MUPETAMI

WINDHOEK

The Namibia Football Association’s (NFA) 16th extraordinary congress moved to terminate the membership of the Namibia Premier League (NPL), its affiliate members and its executive committee members on Saturday.

The executive members who have been expelled are chairperson Patrick Kauta, Bonnie Paulino (vice-chairperson), Peter Nakura, Gabriel Tjombe, and NPL CEO Harald Fuller.

This result came about after many attempts by the NFA to get its members to comply with directives and retain the status of Civics and Orlando Pirates for the new season, which the NPL vowed not to implement and it led to their suspension.

Kauta not softened

Asked by Namibian Sun if the outcome would have been different if he had adhered to the directions, Kauta maintained that relegation from the league is automatic in-terms of the NFA rules and the league exercises no discretion.

Furthermore, when asked about the future direction of the league, Kauta said he has no crystallised thoughts on the expulsion but in time the NFA will perhaps write a letter with reasons to the expulsion. He further added that the NPL is an independent legal person and the purported expulsion doesn’t alter the fact.

Kauta didn’t elaborate on his next steps or the way forward for the league.

Word from a pundit

Football pundits across the country have for weeks leading up to the congress weighed options on the effect expulsion might have for the game, which has over the months not been played due to boardroom politics.

One such pundit, who decided to remain anonymous, hoped that the decision to expel the NPL would not come back to haunt Namibian football in future.

“I also hope that expulsions will not be the new way of settling scores or differences in our football.

“The vote to expel (out of the 21 members who voted, 19 voted in favour and two against) was overwhelming. However, will that majority be used to bully and threaten any member that does not 'toe the line' in future? Will we see unpopular decisions being pushed through because of numerical superiority? Finally, I hope now that people have got what they wanted, football can start and our players can start earning a living again,” said the pundit.

The president speaks

According to an article by Nampa, Ranga Haikali, president of the NFA, said the NPL had ample time to fix their house and avoid being expelled. He further said the expulsion was not the only option the members who voted on the day had.

He urged football fans to be fair enough to not only judge that this was the only option because there were various attempts. “You are aware of the High Court challenge, Supreme Court challenge, the CAS challenge which is still ongoing as it was referred to an arbitrator, there was a consultation with the minister of sport and the engagement the Normalisation Committee.”

Haikali added that the NPL had more than six chances to engage the affiliate but failed to do so. He said the NFA constitution is very clear, “so I would like us to all be fair and acknowledge that there were several attempts before this expulsion decision was held, it did not happen February at the congress - it only happened now with the extraordinary congress,” he further added.

In addition, Haikali stated that he regretfully observed that the whole matter was a mere threat between the mother body and its affiliate. “This matter is just threats. If you don’t do this, I will do this; if you do that, I will do this. This is not negotiations, arbitration or reconciliation,” said Haikali.