Eeshoke Chula Chula chairperson Tamhila Ambrosius has condemned comments allegedly made by former football administrator Barry Rukoro, who claimed that the northern team is a conduit for the Aawambo to dominate football in Namibia.
Former Namibia Football Association (NFA) secretary general Barry Rukoro in an audio clip circulating on WhatsApp seemingly questioned the appeal of the northern team, which has become the talk of the nation after drawing thousands of fans to their games.
Rukoro claimed there is a conspiracy to unseat prominent football clubs, like African Stars, whose supporters are predominantly from other tribes.
“Tigers and Blue Waters failed to live up to that call. And now they found a team that seems to be popular and which is not performing badly, and everyone who hails from the north feels like this is the hope through which to displace African Stars as a ‘big’ team in Namibia,” he said.
Rukoro referred to Eeshoke Chula Chula as a ‘project’ that aims to sway the balance of power in Namibian football.
“So, to those who want to support Eeshoke, go ahead and do so, but know you are supporting a plan that is being hatched to dismantle your tribe,” he said.
When The Namibian called Rukoro for comment yesterday to confirm the authenticity of the audio clip, he said: “I am willing to comment, but I am in a meeting, please call me later.”
He has, however, vehemently defended his view in several Facebook posts.
‘SENSELESS’
Ambrosius yesterday expressed shock and dismay at Rukoro’s sentiments, saying they are not fitting of a football administrator of his calibre.
“It does not make sense for an elder in the game to come up with that statement. Where does tribalism fit in here?” Ambrosius asked.
According to him, his team is representative of the entire country, with players from regions such as the two Kavango regions, and the Oshikoto and Khomas regions, in addition to players from Angola.
“Even our head coach is from the Kavango,” he said.
Ambrosius said Rukoro is trying to distract the team’s players and supporters.
“People do not want competition in this country. We came up, we are doing well, and now they want to disrupt everything.
“But we are not going to be deterred. We are here – not to participate, but to compete and deliver for our fans,” he said.
African Stars executive director Salomo Hei yesterday distanced the team from Rukoro’s comments, saying his team is not about tribe or race, but simply about the business of football.
He said his team is not being victimised or threatened by the presence of Eeshoke Chula Chula in the league.
“We can never be victimised by any team in the league,” Hei said.
He said Rukoro does not speak on behalf of African Stars and “whatever tribal undertones, if any, that are contained in the so-called recording has nothing to do with us”.
Hei said he would still to listen to the recording.
Namibia Premier League (NPL) administrator Mabos Vries confirmed having listened to the audio clip.
He, however, could not pronounce the league’s position on the matter, saying he does not understand Otjiherero and could therefore not understand what Rukoro was saying.
“I did not understand what he was saying, even though I saw people on Facebook complaining about the tribal undertones said to be contained in it,” Vries said.
