Ask IAAF for help, Mutorwa says

SPORT Minister John Mutorwa has asked athletics officials who are not happy with the current state of the sport to direct their grievances to the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF).

Mutorwa yesterday reacted to a letter sent to him by four officials from the Khomas Athletics Region, who accused current Athletics Namibia president Alpha Kangueehi of making an “undisguised attack on all white athletics administrators in a recently published interview by the Informante newspaper”. The letter, which is signed by Quinton-Steele Botes, Hannes von Holtz, Leoni van Rensburg and Charles Gordon, says Kangueehi is “still pursuing his mission that he would get rid of all the Botes, von Holtz and Slabberts from athletics”.The four are all top Khomas Athletic Region officials.Mutorwa said since 2006, the Ministry of Youth, National Service Sport and Culture has tried genuinely to assist the AN family to sort out their problems, only to be accused of interference.”For now, and as per my earlier statements, please direct your enquiries to the IAAF.No correspondence to me until after March 28 2007,” he wrote back.Botes, who is the chairperson of the Khomas Athletic Region, says it will be difficult for the white athletics administrators to serve under a leadership “which is heavily prejudiced against our capabilities”.Botes claims that Kangueehi also accuses black athletes and officials who join clubs that accommodate any colour or creed, including whites, of “supporting Boers”.Botes said it would probably be better for the sake of these athletes if he and the other three officials relinquished their positions on club or regional level.”We are strongly considering this step,” stated Botes, to which Mutorwa replied that “two wrongs cannot make a right”.Botes further said that they are currently obtaining legal advice on the validity of the vote of no confidence at the Tsumeb congress of AN held on August 26 this year.The congress adopted a vote of no confidence in Kangueehi, but the latter was reinstated at the insistence of the IAAF, much to the dissatisfaction of the members who tabled the motion.Before the reinstatement of Kangueehi, the IAAF accused the Sport Ministry of interfering in the domestic affairs of AN, to which Mutorwa said that Government would not support the sports body with any material or financial assistance until a legitimate congress had been held.That stance is still in force.Mutorwa said it was the right of the Khomas Athletic Region to seek legal advice.The Minister also questioned why the issues mentioned in the letter were not raised at the AN Council meeting, which took place in Windhoek on Saturday.He asked whether it was true that the Khomas Region did not attend, according to media reports.In fact, Kangueehi confirmed that the Khomas Athletic Region did not attend the meeting, at which some of the vacant positions were filled.The other region that was not present was Erongo.Concluding his letter, Botes said he does not expect the Minister to take action with regard to the comments made by Kangueehi in the newspaper interview, but just felt that he had to be “informed of the now prevailing situation”.Mutorwa asked why the Khomas Athletic Region was writing to him then.”Between November 22 until March 28, the Ministry is waiting for IAAF and AN to resolve their difference.The Ministry will only speak after March 28,” Mutorwa stated.The letter, which is signed by Quinton-Steele Botes, Hannes von Holtz, Leoni van Rensburg and Charles Gordon, says Kangueehi is “still pursuing his mission that he would get rid of all the Botes, von Holtz and Slabberts from athletics”.The four are all top Khomas Athletic Region officials.Mutorwa said since 2006, the Ministry of Youth, National Service Sport and Culture has tried genuinely to assist the AN family to sort out their problems, only to be accused of interference.”For now, and as per my earlier statements, please direct your enquiries to the IAAF.No correspondence to me until after March 28 2007,” he wrote back.Botes, who is the chairperson of the Khomas Athletic Region, says it will be difficult for the white athletics administrators to serve under a leadership “which is heavily prejudiced against our capabilities”.Botes claims that Kangueehi also accuses black athletes and officials who join clubs that accommodate any colour or creed, including whites, of “supporting Boers”.Botes said it would probably be better for the sake of these athletes if he and the other three officials relinquished their positions on club or regional level.”We are strongly considering this step,” stated Botes, to which Mutorwa replied that “two wrongs cannot make a right”.Botes further said that they are currently obtaining legal advice on the validity of the vote of no confidence at the Tsumeb congress of AN held on August 26 this year.The congress adopted a vote of no confidence in Kangueehi, but the latter was reinstated at the insistence of the IAAF, much to the dissatisfaction of the members who tabled the motion.Before the reinstatement of Kangueehi, the IAAF accused the Sport Ministry of interfering in the domestic affairs of AN, to which Mutorwa said that Government would not support the sports body with any material or financial assistance until a legitimate congress had been held.That stance is still in force.Mutorwa said it was the right of the Khomas Athletic Region to seek legal advice.The Minister also questioned why the issues mentioned in the letter were not raised at the AN Council meeting, which took place in Windhoek on Saturday.He asked whether it was true that the Khomas Region did not attend, according to media reports.In fact, Kangueehi confirmed that the Khomas Athletic Region did not attend the meeting, at which some of the vacant positions were filled.The other region that was not present was Erongo.Concluding his letter, Botes said he does not expect the Minister to take action with regard to the comments made by Kangueehi in the newspaper interview, but just felt that he had to be “informed of the now prevailing situation”.Mutorwa asked why the Khomas Athletic Region was writing to him then.”Between November 22 until March 28, the Ministry is waiting for IAAF and AN to resolve their difference.The Ministry will only speak after March 28,” Mutorwa stated.