Arbitration case far from being finalised

AN arbitration case involving premiership side Life Fighters and the Namibia Premier League (NPL) Disciplinary Committee, will possibly be concluded later next week, a lawyer involved in the case confirmed yesterday.

Clive Kavendjii, a lawyer representing Life Fighters in the drawn-out case which led to the delay of the promotion play-offs at the end of last season, believed that the case may come to an end only next week. He said this was due to Tigers, who still have to go for pre-arbitration and to serve as one of the respondents.Kavendjii said there were at least eight respondents that were identified, but most did not attend the first pre-arbitration meeting on Monday, including Tigers.The NPL DC members did also not attend the pre-arbitration meeting on Monday, but made their absence known to the NFA in a letter.The NPL DC did not give reasons why they could not attend the meeting.”By next Monday, we will have Tigers at a pre-arbitration meeting as they have requested some more time to study some documentation, while they also have to seek advise from their legal representative on the matter,” he said.The referees committee and the NPL DC will also be required to attend the pre-arbitration.The initial arbitration stem from a league match between Life Fighters and Tigers at Otjiwarongo which never materialised, after match officials declared that there was not enough security personnel and feared for their safety as a results.The game was not rescheduled, but the NPL took a decision that the team forfeit three points to Tigers due to the failure of not having at least 10 security personnel on match day.Life Fighters were not satisfied with the decision and the case eventually landed at the door of the Namibia Football AssociationŽs (NFA) Appeals Committee.Initially, Life Fighters argued that it was unfair for points to be awarded to Tigers as they (Life Fighters) also encountered a similar situation when they played against African Stars in Windhoek a few weeks later.Life Fighters claimed their league match against Stars at the SKW Stadium also had fewer than ten security personnel.The NFA Appeals Committee on their part dismissed the Life Fighters case on the grounds similar to the ones of the NPL, but granted the them arbitration to further fight their case.This led to the postponement of the promotion play-offs twice, until it was called off Žuntil further notice.Ž In fact, Life Fighters were relegated last season and can only get entry to the promotion play-offs provided they get a reply against Tigers and beat them.Benfica, which survived relegation after ending a place above Life Fighters, will be affected if Life Fighters beat Tigers and they (Benfica) will eventually be relegated.In case Life Fighters lose the match, they will stay relegated.He said this was due to Tigers, who still have to go for pre-arbitration and to serve as one of the respondents.Kavendjii said there were at least eight respondents that were identified, but most did not attend the first pre-arbitration meeting on Monday, including Tigers.The NPL DC members did also not attend the pre-arbitration meeting on Monday, but made their absence known to the NFA in a letter.The NPL DC did not give reasons why they could not attend the meeting.”By next Monday, we will have Tigers at a pre-arbitration meeting as they have requested some more time to study some documentation, while they also have to seek advise from their legal representative on the matter,” he said.The referees committee and the NPL DC will also be required to attend the pre-arbitration.The initial arbitration stem from a league match between Life Fighters and Tigers at Otjiwarongo which never materialised, after match officials declared that there was not enough security personnel and feared for their safety as a results.The game was not rescheduled, but the NPL took a decision that the team forfeit three points to Tigers due to the failure of not having at least 10 security personnel on match day.Life Fighters were not satisfied with the decision and the case eventually landed at the door of the Namibia Football AssociationŽs (NFA) Appeals Committee.Initially, Life Fighters argued that it was unfair for points to be awarded to Tigers as they (Life Fighters) also encountered a similar situation when they played against African Stars in Windhoek a few weeks later.Life Fighters claimed their league match against Stars at the SKW Stadium also had fewer than ten security personnel.The NFA Appeals Committee on their part dismissed the Life Fighters case on the grounds similar to the ones of the NPL, but granted the them arbitration to further fight their case.This led to the postponement of the promotion play-offs twice, until it was called off Žuntil further notice.Ž In fact, Life Fighters were relegated last season and can only get entry to the promotion play-offs provided they get a reply against Tigers and beat them.Benfica, which survived relegation after ending a place above Life Fighters, will be affected if Life Fighters beat Tigers and they (Benfica) will eventually be relegated.In case Life Fighters lose the match, they will stay relegated.