MINISTER of Sport John Mutorwa views the disregard of rules and laws as the most common cause of misunderstandings and mistrust in sport circles.
He says this eventually leads to situations where the name of a particular game or sport discipline is brought into disrepute. Mutorwa spoke at the opening of a three-day community workshop organised by the Federation of International Football Associations (Fifa) in Windhoek yesterday.The workshop has the purpose of strengthening relations between stakeholders in football and is being attended by club officials and administrators.It will cover aspects such communication, marketing of the game, media relations, advertising and branding through television.He said in Namibia’s case, it was important for leaders to be credible, honest, firm and principled to lead and guide sportswomen and men, adding that clubs and associations must be run in accordance with their adopted written constitutions.He said although the storm which engulfed the Namibia Football Association (NFA) in the run-up to its congress last year was now over, it was still important for leaders to cooperate and work in the interest of the players.He said more often in this country, leaders tend to sit in meetings and quarrel about issues at the expense of athletes who suffer as a result.”We need to get mature and move away from this,” he said.He added that clubs and associations should also strive to be accountable in their dealings by being transparent in their activities and especially in accounting for the financial resources at their disposal.”Government must legally demand from sport leaders and managers, at the end of the day, the submission of audited financial reports,” he said.He said some codes are also making irresponsible statements such as accusing Government of interfering in their activities.He said the role of Government, especially the Ministry of Sport which has been faced with problems in football and athletics in the past year, is only to offer “brotherly and sisterly” advice, and that Government has no intention of interfering with the day-to-day running of the codes.He said Government and the different associations and stakeholders in sport need to cement a healthy working relationship for improving the standard of sport in the country.”Governments are there to provide a conducive, enabling and favourable peaceful policy and legal environment for sport people, like those in other sectors, to practise their sport,” he said.NFA president John Muinjo said there was a lot of potential to take Namibian football to another level.He said the community course could foster strong working relationships with football partners, which would ultimately improve the runnning game.Muinjo recently signed a partnership with the South African Football Association (Safa), which aims at improving the level of the game in the country.The deal will look into ways of creating a professional league in Namibia and will also address numerous issues ranging from the development of the game to refereeing and women’s football.Muinjo said the NFA relies on Fifa for guidance in its hour of need and the course was important to solidify and further strengthen a sound relationship between the association and the football fraternity.Fifa’s development officer for Africa, Ashford Mamelodi, said communication in football is vital, adding that associations must have communication officers and updated websites to ensure a free flow of information to the public via the media.He said marketing is an important aspect of football and the course will look at how to improve and strengthen the relationship with Government and the sponsors.The advertising of matches, competent referees and fully complying with the sponsors’ expectation will also be looked at.Mutorwa spoke at the opening of a three-day community workshop organised by the Federation of International Football Associations (Fifa) in Windhoek yesterday.The workshop has the purpose of strengthening relations between stakeholders in football and is being attended by club officials and administrators.It will cover aspects such communication, marketing of the game, media relations, advertising and branding through television.He said in Namibia’s case, it was important for leaders to be credible, honest, firm and principled to lead and guide sportswomen and men, adding that clubs and associations must be run in accordance with their adopted written constitutions.He said although the storm which engulfed the Namibia Football Association (NFA) in the run-up to its congress last year was now over, it was still important for leaders to cooperate and work in the interest of the players.He said more often in this country, leaders tend to sit in meetings and quarrel about issues at the expense of athletes who suffer as a result.”We need to get mature and move away from this,” he said.He added that clubs and associations should also strive to be accountable in their dealings by being transparent in their activities and especially in accounting for the financial resources at their disposal.”Government must legally demand from sport leaders and managers, at the end of the day, the submission of audited financial reports,” he said.He said some codes are also making irresponsible statements such as accusing Government of interfering in their activities.He said the role of Government, especially the Ministry of Sport which has been faced with problems in football and athletics in the past year, is only to offer “brotherly and sisterly” advice, and that Government has no intention of interfering with the day-to-day running of the codes.He said Government and the different associations and stakeholders in sport need to cement a healthy working relationship for improving the standard of sport in the country.”Governments are there to provide a conducive, enabling and favourable peaceful policy and legal environment for sport people, like those in other sectors, to practise their sport,” he said.NFA president John Muinjo said there was a lot of potential to take Namibian football to another level.He said the community course could foster strong working relationships with football partners, which would ultimately improve the runnning game.Muinjo recently signed a partnership with the South African Football Association (Safa), which aims at improving the level of the game in the country.The deal will look into ways of creating a professional league in Namibia and will also address numerous issues ranging from the development of the game to refereeing and women’s football.Muinjo said the NFA relies on Fifa for guidance in its hour of need and the course was important to solidify and further strengthen a sound relationship between the association and the football fraternity.Fifa’s development officer for Africa, Ashford Mamelodi, said communication in football is vital, adding that associations must have communication officers and updated websites to ensure a free flow of information to the public via the media.He said marketing is an important aspect of football and the course will look at how to improve and strengthen the relationship with Government and the sponsors.The advertising of matches, competent referees and fully complying with the sponsors’ expectation will also be looked at.
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