Football in turmoil

NAMIBIAN football is on the verge of grinding to a halt, with the promotion playoffs in the balance as teams threaten to take legal action because of NFA decisions that they claim are unfair.

The latest drama in the game that has seen numerous controversial twists in recent months is that of Life Fighters, who have now pulled out of the playoffs and threatened the Namibia Football Association (NFA) with legal action. Life Fighters are no strangers to halting proceedings and are fresh from a protracted arbitration case that has delayed the league kick-off for the 2005/2006 season.The Otjiwarongo team say they are not happy with the NFA’s silence on objections that they raised after the NFA announced the new format for the promotion playoffs.Life Fighters chairman Percy Tjaverua informed the NFA that they are not interested in competing in the playoffs because their questions have not been answered.When contacted yesterday, NFA Organising and Competitions Committee (OCC) vice chairman Eric Hansen said a team that does not take part in the playoffs will disqualify itself automatically for possible promotion.PLAY OR STAY OUT “It is very simple.If you don’t play, you are out.We (NFA) are not going to be disadvantaged or disappointed, because we are doing these things in the interest of the game,” he said.Life Fighters want to know why they have to play in a first round of playoffs against teams that were relegated.The relegated teams were Deportivo Alaves and Friends, both from Rehoboth, and KK Palace from Oshakati.In fact, Life Fighters were also considered as relegated, but could have survived the chop if three points had not been taken away from them and given to Tigers.Life Fighters believe that they are legitimate relegation survivors and are supposed to play in the original playoffs against the four regional (first-division) winners and Golden Bees, who were also clear in the top league.Tjaverua threatened that they would take the legal route to worsen matters for the NFA, which is battling to get the current poor state of football back on track.BENFICA CASE Another worrying factor for the association is that Benfica, who also argue that they have been treated unfairly, have said they will play in the playoffs, but will take legal action if they lose and are relegated.Benfica also argue that they should not have to play in the first-round playoffs, but only in the original playoffs with the four regional winners.They survived relegation according to the last log standings that were issued by the NPL.The first round of playoffs, according to the NFA, have to include Benfica, Life Fighters, Deportivo, KK Palace and Friends.The two winners can proceed to a second round of playoffs against the four regional winners.The two winners of the second round will be promoted to the premiership.Golden Bees will only join in the second round of playoffs.LEAGUE DELAYED Hansen yesterday announced that the premier league will only resume on November 5 and 6 because of the playoffs that still need to be completed.Another season-opening tournament still has to be rescheduled.In an earlier statement, NFA president Petrus Damaseb said the league would start on the weekend of October 22.Hansen said the last dates for the playoffs will be October 22 and 23, while the Humphries Security Guard Division Cup is scheduled for the weekends of October 29 and 30 and November 5 and 6.The Northern Stream First Division also starts on November 5 and 6, while the Southern Stream First Division resumes on October 29.Life Fighters are no strangers to halting proceedings and are fresh from a protracted arbitration case that has delayed the league kick-off for the 2005/2006 season.The Otjiwarongo team say they are not happy with the NFA’s silence on objections that they raised after the NFA announced the new format for the promotion playoffs.Life Fighters chairman Percy Tjaverua informed the NFA that they are not interested in competing in the playoffs because their questions have not been answered.When contacted yesterday, NFA Organising and Competitions Committee (OCC) vice chairman Eric Hansen said a team that does not take part in the playoffs will disqualify itself automatically for possible promotion.PLAY OR STAY OUT “It is very simple.If you don’t play, you are out.We (NFA) are not going to be disadvantaged or disappointed, because we are doing these things in the interest of the game,” he said.Life Fighters want to know why they have to play in a first round of playoffs against teams that were relegated.The relegated teams were Deportivo Alaves and Friends, both from Rehoboth, and KK Palace from Oshakati.In fact, Life Fighters were also considered as relegated, but could have survived the chop if three points had not been taken away from them and given to Tigers.Life Fighters believe that they are legitimate relegation survivors and are supposed to play in the original playoffs against the four regional (first-division) winners and Golden Bees, who were also clear in the top league.Tjaverua threatened that they would take the legal route to worsen matters for the NFA, which is battling to get the current poor state of football back on track.BENFICA CASE Another worrying factor for the association is that Benfica, who also argue that they have been treated unfairly, have said they will play in the playoffs, but will take legal action if they lose and are relegated.Benfica also argue that they should not have to play in the first-round playoffs, but only in the original playoffs with the four regional winners.They survived relegation according to the last log standings that were issued by the NPL.The first round of playoffs, according to the NFA, have to include Benfica, Life Fighters, Deportivo, KK Palace and Friends.The two winners can proceed to a second round of playoffs against the four regional winners.The two winners of the second round will be promoted to the premiership.Golden Bees will only join in the second round of playoffs.LEAGUE DELAYED Hansen yesterday announced that the premier league will only resume on November 5 and 6 because of the playoffs that still need to be completed.Another season-opening tournament still has to be rescheduled.In an earlier statement, NFA president Petrus Damaseb said the league would start on the weekend of October 22.Hansen said the last dates for the playoffs will be October 22 and 23, while the Humphries Security Guard Division Cup is scheduled for the weekends of October 29 and 30 and November 5 and 6.The Northern Stream First Division also starts on November 5 and 6, while the Southern Stream First Division resumes on October 29.