Fifa orders NFA to re-instate Rukoro

ISSASKAR Barry Rukoro is to be reinstated as Namibia Football Association secretary general effective today, as per Fifa directive.

An NFA insider confirmed to The Namibian Sport that their office received the directive to grant Rukoro a five-year contract on Tuesday when the Fifa Normalisation Committee’s term ended.

Rukoro re-assumes the influential role, which was temporarily filled by Normalisation Committee vice chairperson Franco Cosmos, 14 months after being escorted from the NFA Football House by police.

Attempts to get comment from the NFA, which last night was to due hand “a six-year contract” to Willem Kapukare as the new substantive Brave Warriors head coach, proved futile before going to print.

The well-placed NFA source said the newly elected hierarchy had no objections with Fifa’s decree as Rukoro’s pedigree and influence speaks for itself.

The development is surprising to say the least, given that Fifa had publicly shunned Rukoro in 2018 for his role in the Namibian football war which led to the establishment of the Normalisation Committee, before rubber-stamping the NC’s move not to renew his contract in February last year.

Unfazed, the polarising Rukoro indicated that his reign as secretary general was far from over, and his stance rings true today.

Fifa and Rukoro reportedly smoked the peace pipe earlier this year, paving the way for the experienced administrator to return.

The NFA is expected to hold a press conference, open to the public, to unveil Rukoro and Kapukare at the NFA Technical Centre on Wednesday.

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