Arbitration case drags on

THE outcome of the arbitration case involving premiership side Life Fighters and the Namibia Premier League’s (NPL) Disciplinary Committee, which has thrown the smooth conclusion of the domestic league into jeopardy, will only be known later this week.

Life Fighters were granted arbitration by the Namibia Football Association (NFA) Appeals Committee. Life Fighters claim that points were taken away unfairly from them after they failed to arrange for sufficient security personnel at Otjiwarongo.NPL League administrator Tovey //Hoebeb told The Namibian Sport yesterday that the lawyer of Life Fighters, Clive Kavendjii, was not available yesterday and will only present the dispute points to the arbitrator from tomorrow.”He is not available for today (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday), so we are looking at having them to present their dispute points on Wednesday.But we are hopeful that this issue will be resolved before the end of this week,” he said.Life Fighters and Tigers were supposed to play their league match at the Mokati Stadium, but the match never took place after match officials feared for their lives and called it off even before it could start.The NPL Disciplinary Committee, after studying the reports by the match officials who were assigned to handle the match, decided to award Tigers the match points.An appeal to the NFA Appeals Committee by the Otjiwarongo outfit was also dismissed, a move which prompted them to ask for arbitration from the football association.Life Fighters are also arguing that they are being treated differently than African Stars, another premiership side that also did not have enough security personnel for a match at the SKW Stadium.Team officials argue that Stars should also be punished for not adhering to the requirements of ensuring adequate safety at the stadium.The case has delayed the completion of the relegation/promotion playoffs that were to conclude the football season, thus meaning that the Namibian domestic season has not ended yet.The playoffs can only go ahead if the case has been finalised, as Life Fighters, who officially have been relegated, are fighting to stay in top-flight football by first claiming a stake in the playoffs.In case the arbitrator, lawyer Deon Obbes, decides that the match must be replayed, Life Fighters stand a chance to get into the premiership, provided they beat Tigers and have successful play-offs afterwards.But a win against Tigers would also mean that Benfica, which is currently lined up to fight for a place to stay in elite league after the play-offs, will have to face automatic relegation, as Life Fighters will go above them on the log.Meanwhile, Tigers club officials are threatening not to replay the match against Life Fighters, arguing that their players are having an off-season rest at the moment.The delay in the conclusion of the arbitration case will possibly also delay the start of the league, which is scheduled for August 13.Life Fighters claim that points were taken away unfairly from them after they failed to arrange for sufficient security personnel at Otjiwarongo.NPL League administrator Tovey //Hoebeb told The Namibian Sport yesterday that the lawyer of Life Fighters, Clive Kavendjii, was not available yesterday and will only present the dispute points to the arbitrator from tomorrow.”He is not available for today (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday), so we are looking at having them to present their dispute points on Wednesday.But we are hopeful that this issue will be resolved before the end of this week,” he said.Life Fighters and Tigers were supposed to play their league match at the Mokati Stadium, but the match never took place after match officials feared for their lives and called it off even before it could start.The NPL Disciplinary Committee, after studying the reports by the match officials who were assigned to handle the match, decided to award Tigers the match points.An appeal to the NFA Appeals Committee by the Otjiwarongo outfit was also dismissed, a move which prompted them to ask for arbitration from the football association.Life Fighters are also arguing that they are being treated differently than African Stars, another premiership side that also did not have enough security personnel for a match at the SKW Stadium.Team officials argue that Stars should also be punished for not adhering to the requirements of ensuring adequate safety at the stadium.The case has delayed the completion of the relegation/promotion playoffs that were to conclude the football season, thus meaning that the Namibian domestic season has not ended yet.The playoffs can only go ahead if the case has been finalised, as Life Fighters, who officially have been relegated, are fighting to stay in top-flight football by first claiming a stake in the playoffs.In case the arbitrator, lawyer Deon Obbes, decides that the match must be replayed, Life Fighters stand a chance to get into the premiership, provided they beat Tigers and have successful play-offs afterwards.But a win against Tigers would also mean that Benfica, which is currently lined up to fight for a place to stay in elite league after the play-offs, will have to face automatic relegation, as Life Fighters will go above them on the log.Meanwhile, Tigers club officials are threatening not to replay the match against Life Fighters, arguing that their players are having an off-season rest at the moment.The delay in the conclusion of the arbitration case will possibly also delay the start of the league, which is scheduled for August 13.