'We are rightful winners'

Military School Okahandja say they were not aware of the rule which prohibits two defence force clubs from participating in the same local football league, including the country's top flight.

The club was reacting to the news that the North West First Division (NWFD) had resolved on Sunday to promote Oshakati's African Motto Football Club to the Namibia Premier League (NPL), instead of them.

This is despite Military School winning the two-leg promotional playoff 1-0 against African Motto two weeks ago.

They were, however, not promoted as this would have meant two Namibian Defence Force (NDF) teams would be playing in the NPL in the upcoming season, with Mighty Gunners already plying their trade in the top flight league.

A senior member of the Military School Okahandja management team, who did not want to be identified, said the club was not aware of the rule, which now sees them being sent back to the first division.

They also never received any formal document or communication that states they would be sent back to the NWFD, even if they win the league and playoffs convincingly.

“We registered the club rightfully, and played in the league. We won on the field and will not allow boardroom politics to interfere with our promotion,” he said.

“If there are rules in place, why skip them till the last minute. There is favouritism here. We never robbed anyone and will not consider the NWFD's decision to eliminate us.”

According to Namibia Football Association (NFA) statutes, no natural or legal person, including holding companies and subsidiaries, may exercise control over more than one club or group in the league.

NWFD vice-chairperson Lawrence Kandundu confirmed the decision insofar as Military School was concerned.

“We decided to promote African Motto as the rules are clear,” he told Nampa on Sunday.

Kandundu added that all teams in the league have been informed of the NFA directive regarding team ownership.

“Club owners should familiarise themselves with the statutes of the football association and should not complain that they were not told, while there are statutes in place that guide all of us,” he said.

The letter regarding African Motto's promotion states that another NDF team, Eleven Warriors, will also be relegated to the Otjozondjupa second division, as they cannot compete in the same league as Military School Okahandja.

It said Young Chiefs, who were relegated at the end of the NPL season, will be accepted into the NWFD instead.

NFA secretary-general Barry Rukoro told Nampa the association's executive committee took a decision two years ago with regard to one organisation or person owning two teams in the same competition.

“Military School belongs to the NDF and there is no documentation stating otherwise. We cannot have two teams owned by the same organisation competing in the same competition,” he said.

Rukoro explained the NFA executive committee decided that any of the NDF teams who win their respective first division or second division streams, where there is already an NDF team playing, will not be promoted to the same league.

“We had two defence force teams playing in the NWFD and we informed the league administrators that at the end of the season, one of the teams would have to be relegated to the second division. The league administrators should now be brave enough to take a decision,” he said.

Rukoro said in an earlier interview that Military School reaching the playoffs was just part of the league process, which they needed to complete.

He said African Motto would have to be promoted to the NPL, even if they fail to win the second leg of their playoff clashes.

NFA president Frans Mbidi said yesterday he cannot comment on the matter, as only the executive could do that.

“If the clubs do not follow the constitution, only then can I comment,” Mbidi said.

African Motto will join already promoted Southern Stream First Division winners Young Brazilians from Karasburg and North East First Division winners Julinho Sporting from Rundu in the NPL.

In addition to the ownership regulation, the NPL also announced earlier this year that all NPL coaches would have to step down if they did not have a CAF B-licence.

Assistant coaches should have a CAF C-licence, as per the NFA constitution rules.

However, some coaches have refused to adhere to this directive, saying they finance their clubs themselves.

They also wanted to know at the time where clubs will find coaches with the qualifications, and who will pay them.

LIMBA MUPETAMI