Athletics bosses booted

MINISTER of Sport John Mutorwa has removed the entire executive committee of Athletics Namibia (AN), led by its president Alpha Kangueehi.

Mutorwa yesterday called a press conference at which he announced an interim committee to replace the AN executive in the run-up to the SADC Under-20 Youth Games. He said neither his Ministry nor the Namibia Sport Commission (NSC) had confidence in the national leaders of Athletics Namibia.”As such, neither the Ministry nor the NSC can further directly entrust the Athletics Namibia leadership with the responsibility of preparing the Namibian under-20 athletes to competently and confidently participate in the forthcoming Supreme Council of Sports in Africa SADC Zone 6 Under-20 Youth Games, to be hosted by Namibia from June 26 to July 9,” Mutorwa said.AN has come under fire on numerous occasions, especially since the election of Kangueehi as president about two years ago.His management style has come under heavy criticism.He was accused of taking unilateral decisions, while his Secretary General, Elizabeth Kamutuezu, was accused of alleged incompetence.Kangueehi’s executive failed to submit audited financial reports to the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) in time.The committee also failed on numerous occasions to organise successful athletics meets, with events often called off at the last minute.The latest example was the trials for under-20 athletes to compete at the Zone 6 Youth Game scheduled to be held in Windhoek last weekend.It was cancelled after the athletes had already arrived.”Money was spent on transport, catering and accommodation for athletes from the regions.However, again, due to poor planning, the competition did not take place.Again money was wasted, athletes and officials were left stranded, frustrated and disgruntled,” Mutorwa said.Mutorwa said the Sport Commission had decided to appoint an interim committee with immediate effect to take over the responsibility of planning, organising and managing the trials and preparing the athletes for the Youth Games.He said Government could not stand by and allow the situation to deteriorate, and was prepared to invoke a provision of the Sports Act.”The Commission may strike off the register the name of a national sports body or national umbrella sports body if the Commission is satisfied that the body conducts its affairs in a manner which is contrary to the public interest,” it reads.The Minister directed the membership of AN to call an extraordinary congress within six months to elect a new executive.If they did not, the Ministry would be left with no option but to invoke the provision.When contacted yesterday, Kangueehi seemed not to realise the seriousness of yesterday’s move.He said he had no problem with the appointment of the interim committee, but that he was tired and he was not sure whether he would continue as head of AN.”I don’t know if I will continue.I haven’t received a letter from the Ministry yet and I’m still thinking about what I should do,” he said.”I’m tired, to be honest, and right now I don’t feel in the mood to carry on,” he added.”But I need to discuss this with AN’s executive committee.We will hold a national congress on June 2 to discuss the leadership issue of AN and we must wait and see what will transpire there.Right now I am tired and after that I see myself as a free man,” he said.* Additional reporting by Namibia SportHe said neither his Ministry nor the Namibia Sport Commission (NSC) had confidence in the national leaders of Athletics Namibia.”As such, neither the Ministry nor the NSC can further directly entrust the Athletics Namibia leadership with the responsibility of preparing the Namibian under-20 athletes to competently and confidently participate in the forthcoming Supreme Council of Sports in Africa SADC Zone 6 Under-20 Youth Games, to be hosted by Namibia from June 26 to July 9,” Mutorwa said.AN has come under fire on numerous occasions, especially since the election of Kangueehi as president about two years ago.His management style has come under heavy criticism. He was accused of taking unilateral decisions, while his Secretary General, Elizabeth Kamutuezu, was accused of alleged incompetence.Kangueehi’s executive failed to submit audited financial reports to the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) in time.The committee also failed on numerous occasions to organise successful athletics meets, with events often called off at the last minute.The latest example was the trials for under-20 athletes to compete at the Zone 6 Youth Game scheduled to be held in Windhoek last weekend.It was cancelled after the athletes had already arrived.”Money was spent on transport, catering and accommodation for athletes from the regions.However, again, due to poor planning, the competition did not take place.Again money was wasted, athletes and officials were left stranded, frustrated and disgruntled,” Mutorwa said.Mutorwa said the Sport Commission had decided to appoint an interim committee with immediate effect to take over the responsibility of planning, organising and managing the trials and preparing the athletes for the Youth Games.He said Government could not stand by and allow the situation to deteriorate, and was prepared to invoke a provision of the Sports Act.”The Commission may strike off the register the name of a national sports body or national umbrella sports body if the Commission is satisfied that the body conducts its affairs in a manner which is contrary to the public interest,” it reads.The Minister directed the membership of AN to call an extraordinary congress within six months to elect a new executive.If they did not, the Ministry would be left with no option but to invoke the provision.When contacted yesterday, Kangueehi seemed not to realise the seriousness of yesterday’s move.He said he had no problem with the appointment of the interim committee, but that he was tired and he was not sure whether he would continue as head of AN.”I don’t know if I will continue.I haven’t received a letter from the Ministry yet and I’m still thinking about what I should do,” he said.”I’m tired, to be honest, and right now I don’t feel in the mood to carry on,” he added.”But I need to discuss this with AN’s executive committee.We will hold a national congress on June 2 to discuss the leadership issue of AN and we must wait and see what will transpire there.Right now I am tired and after that I see myself as a free man,” he said.* Additional reporting by Namibia Sport