Fifa to probe NFA after squabbles

THE Federation of International Football Federations (Fifa) has assigned Ashford Mamelodi to Namibia for a fact-finding mission due to take place on June 20 and 21, The Namibian Sport established yesterday.

In a letter addressed to acting President John Muinjo on June 9, FifaŽs Jerome Champagne wrote that in order to assess the current situation in Namibian football, Fifa has asked Mamelodi to hold several meetings with all stakeholders, including President Hifikepunye Pohamba. Mamelodi is a Fifa Development Officer based in Botswana.Fifa has also addressed the letter to the Secretary General of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Mustapha Fahmy.Champagne said Muinjo should organise meetings with Namibian political authorities, at Presidential level and with the Minister of Sport, John Mutorwa.The fact-finding mission stems from the recent take-over of an interim committee of Namibian football affairs, after a vote of no confidence was expressed in MuinjoŽs executive committee.It is not yet clear if the interim committee, which is headed by Blue Waters Football Club owner Hendrik Dawids, is legitimate or not as there was a dispute over the constitutionality of the committee.However, Dawids and his interim committee – which consists of several chairpersons from 12 regions who called the committee into life – argue that it was legal as it was done within the realms of the NFA constitution which guarantees that such a committee be established in case the existing executive is not favoured by the regions.Champagne wrote that Muinjo also set up meetings with the members of the Namibian football family, which includes clubs, regional associations and the Namibia Premier League (NPL).He also wants the representatives of the Namibia Football Consortium (NFC) to be involved in the talks with Mamelodi.The NFC are the official sponsors of Namibian football and have invested N$40 million to be used for the development of the game including the league, coaching, refereeing and the national teams.Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC), First National Bank (FNB) and Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) are serving as the consortium.Champagne said: “Fifa closely followed the recent events which rocked the Namibia FA in the past weeks and would like to express its concerns of the potential negative impact that these events could have on the whole Namibian football family, on the credibility of the NFA towards partners of the political arena and the private sector, and overall in the relationship with Fifa.””In the meantime, Fifa urges all parties involved in the NFA to refrain from any decision which would only make the situation even more complicated,” he added.When contacted yesterday, Muinjo said he would make an announcement on the position of his executive committee this week.”The most important thing now would be for the Association to organise an Ordinary Congress.But at this stage, I took note of the letter from Fifa and would only make a statement on both the letter and the congress this week,” he said.Mamelodi is a Fifa Development Officer based in Botswana.Fifa has also addressed the letter to the Secretary General of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Mustapha Fahmy.Champagne said Muinjo should organise meetings with Namibian political authorities, at Presidential level and with the Minister of Sport, John Mutorwa.The fact-finding mission stems from the recent take-over of an interim committee of Namibian football affairs, after a vote of no confidence was expressed in MuinjoŽs executive committee.It is not yet clear if the interim committee, which is headed by Blue Waters Football Club owner Hendrik Dawids, is legitimate or not as there was a dispute over the constitutionality of the committee.However, Dawids and his interim committee – which consists of several chairpersons from 12 regions who called the committee into life – argue that it was legal as it was done within the realms of the NFA constitution which guarantees that such a committee be established in case the existing executive is not favoured by the regions.Champagne wrote that Muinjo also set up meetings with the members of the Namibian football family, which includes clubs, regional associations and the Namibia Premier League (NPL).He also wants the representatives of the Namibia Football Consortium (NFC) to be involved in the talks with Mamelodi.The NFC are the official sponsors of Namibian football and have invested N$40 million to be used for the development of the game including the league, coaching, refereeing and the national teams.Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC), First National Bank (FNB) and Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) are serving as the consortium.Champagne said: “Fifa closely followed the recent events which rocked the Namibia FA in the past weeks and would like to express its concerns of the potential negative impact that these events could have on the whole Namibian football family, on the credibility of the NFA towards partners of the political arena and the private sector, and overall in the relationship with Fifa.””In the meantime, Fifa urges all parties involved in the NFA to refrain from any decision which would only make the situation even more complicated,” he added.When contacted yesterday, Muinjo said he would make an announcement on the position of his executive committee this week.”The most important thing now would be for the Association to organise an Ordinary Congress.But at this stage, I took note of the letter from Fifa and would only make a statement on both the letter and the congress this week,” he said.