Benfica tackles the NFA

BENFICA owner Kanu Amadhila says he is going to appeal against the verdict of the Namibia Football Association’s (NFA) Disciplinary Committee acquitting Mighty Gunners coach Dawid Snewe on charges of bribery and match fixing.

Amadhila said the hearing was not fair because he, as the complainant, was never consulted and questioned, nor was the statement he made to the Police on the alleged bribery considered by the committee when it met last Saturday. The NFA on Monday declared that Snewe was now a free man after an investigation team that went to Tsumeb to look into the case found that the matter was based on hearsay.It said that no one came forth with concrete evidence to counter Snewe’s plea of innocence.Snewe was accused of offering money to at least five players of Benfica to abandon a match that could ultimately lead to Benfica losing, with the aim of giving Mighty Gunners easy access to the premiership.Both teams competed in the Northern Stream First Division, with the winner set to join the premiership this season.Amadhila yesterday told The Namibian Sport that he received no official invitation from the members of the DC to attend the hearing and give testimony.He said the statements he made to the Police, together with two of his players who were allegedly involved, were not considered, according to a source who served on the committee.”Now you ask yourself, on what basis was Snewe acquitted? If they went to Tsumeb to investigate, why did they not come to me, as I was the one who made the complaint about the bribery,” he said.”I was not given an opportunity to present my case based on the information and evidence I have regarding the whole case.For me, it is a matter of principle.The football authorities have really failed in this regard and I am going to appeal against that decision,” he charged.He claimed that even the players who were implicated in the scandal were not questioned, adding that the conclusion by the NFA’s DC left a lot to be desired.He said he called the NFA several times, specifically Rukoro, but he was sent from pillar to post.When asked if he had submitted his complaint in writing to the NFA, Amadhila said he did not, but had a verbal discussion with Rukoro on the matter.Rukoro yesterday said the case was closed and that they are just waiting for final communication from the chairman of the DC, which will then give them the right to decide on who won the league.Mighty Gunners finished top of the league, followed by Chief Santos in second place.The Namibian Sport was refused the final log standings of the league, apparently due to the ongoing case.The NFA on Monday declared that Snewe was now a free man after an investigation team that went to Tsumeb to look into the case found that the matter was based on hearsay.It said that no one came forth with concrete evidence to counter Snewe’s plea of innocence.Snewe was accused of offering money to at least five players of Benfica to abandon a match that could ultimately lead to Benfica losing, with the aim of giving Mighty Gunners easy access to the premiership.Both teams competed in the Northern Stream First Division, with the winner set to join the premiership this season.Amadhila yesterday told The Namibian Sport that he received no official invitation from the members of the DC to attend the hearing and give testimony.He said the statements he made to the Police, together with two of his players who were allegedly involved, were not considered, according to a source who served on the committee.”Now you ask yourself, on what basis was Snewe acquitted? If they went to Tsumeb to investigate, why did they not come to me, as I was the one who made the complaint about the bribery,” he said.”I was not given an opportunity to present my case based on the information and evidence I have regarding the whole case.For me, it is a matter of principle.The football authorities have really failed in this regard and I am going to appeal against that decision,” he charged.He claimed that even the players who were implicated in the scandal were not questioned, adding that the conclusion by the NFA’s DC left a lot to be desired.He said he called the NFA several times, specifically Rukoro, but he was sent from pillar to post.When asked if he had submitted his complaint in writing to the NFA, Amadhila said he did not, but had a verbal discussion with Rukoro on the matter.Rukoro yesterday said the case was closed and that they are just waiting for final communication from the chairman of the DC, which will then give them the right to decide on who won the league.Mighty Gunners finished top of the league, followed by Chief Santos in second place.The Namibian Sport was refused the final log standings of the league, apparently due to the ongoing case.