From the Sidelines

THE current delay in the start of the Namibian domestic football season will continue to have a devastating effect on the performance of the national team in their attempts to qualify for the African Nations Cup.

Namibia is hosting Ethiopia on October 7 in an African Nations Cup qualifier in Windhoek and as far as I gather, the opposition has been in camp for over two weeks to prepare for this match. With no local football going on to keep the players match fit and with professionals scattered around in different parts of the world, the Namibian team has just over a week to prepare for this encounter.Namibian head coach Ben Bamfuchile intends to keep the majority of the players who did duty against the Democratic Republic of Congo (3-2 loss), but most are locally based and have not been involved in any competitive matches since that clash early this month.The delay of the league has prevented local players from playing in matches to keep them in shape, while the coach is in an unfortunate position, having to keep the same players because he did not get an opportunity to see any other players in action.If the league had started earlier, Bamfuchile could have drafted more players into his camp before choosing his best team.The only active players are the foreign-based players, some of whom have been in competitive matches on a consistent basis and their form cannot be compared with the locals who are forming the bulk of the team.The lack of proper preparations for the match against Ethiopia will definitely count against Namibia, as the team has not been together for some time now, and it has been proven in the past that two weeks are not enough time for a team to get into peak form.It is a pity that the local players have been denied the chance to play on league level, as it could have helped them to be better prepared.The blame for this setback can be squarely put on the shoulders of the football administrators.Unresolved disciplinary cases, appeals that have been lodged and the other usual pre-season problems will undoubtedly be determining factors if the Brave Warriors perform poorly.The only logical option is for Bamfuchile is to opt for more foreign-based players in his side, as they have been playing on a regular basis with their clubs.The players in South Africa should especially get preference above the local ones because there is no way that a winning team can be sought from the players here at home.Administrators, be it within the Namibia Football Association or the Namibia Premier League, should take the flak if Namibia fails to qualify for the Nations Cup.Of course there are elections currently going on in the different parts of the country according to the Fifa Roadmap, but it does not mean that football cannot continue.The nation and especially the players and team officials have expressed total dismay at the way these problems on administrative level affect the progress of the game on the playing fields.It is really a pity that football administrators play political games at the expense of the clubs that simply want to go out there and play the game.We all know that the NFA elections are coming up at the end of October and this has also affected the start of the league, because the administrators are playing mind games with each other in their attempts to win seats.I am appealing to all administrators who are influential in resolving some of the crisis situations in football to be considerate enough towards the progress of the game and bring an end to the current problems.Opportunism from some individuals in trying to become the leaders in the game has basically tumbled the whole game into chaos and it will really be good if they start seeing it from a different angle.The bottom line is that unresolved issues should be brought to an end soon for the sake of football.Sponsors are spending millions on the game and they are the ones who are left embarrassed in the end, because the ones in charge are failing to professionally run the game and the execution of their duties has proven to be extremely poor.Stop the fights in the boardrooms and let the players do what they do best – play football.With no local football going on to keep the players match fit and with professionals scattered around in different parts of the world, the Namibian team has just over a week to prepare for this encounter.Namibian head coach Ben Bamfuchile intends to keep the majority of the players who did duty against the Democratic Republic of Congo (3-2 loss), but most are locally based and have not been involved in any competitive matches since that clash early this month.The delay of the league has prevented local players from playing in matches to keep them in shape, while the coach is in an unfortunate position, having to keep the same players because he did not get an opportunity to see any other players in action.If the league had started earlier, Bamfuchile could have drafted more players into his camp before choosing his best team.The only active players are the foreign-based players, some of whom have been in competitive matches on a consistent basis and their form cannot be compared with the locals who are forming the bulk of the team.The lack of proper preparations for the match against Ethiopia will definitely count against Namibia, as the team has not been together for some time now, and it has been proven in the past that two weeks are not enough time for a team to get into peak form.It is a pity that the local players have been denied the chance to play on league level, as it could have helped them to be better prepared.The blame for this setback can be squarely put on the shoulders of the football administrators.Unresolved disciplinary cases, appeals that have been lodged and the other usual pre-season problems will undoubtedly be determining factors if the Brave Warriors perform poorly.The only logical option is for Bamfuchile is to opt for more foreign-based players in his side, as they have been playing on a regular basis with their clubs.The players in South Africa should especially get preference above the local ones because there is no way that a winning team can be sought from the players here at home.Administrators, be it within the Namibia Football Association or the Namibia Premier League, should take the flak if Namibia fails to qualify for the Nations Cup.Of course there are elections currently going on in the different parts of the country according to the Fifa Roadmap, but it does not mean that football cannot continue.The nation and especially the players and team officials have expressed total dismay at the way these problems on administrative level affect the progress of the game on the playing fields.It is really a pity that football administrators play political games at the expense of the clubs that simply want to go out there and play the game.We all know that the NFA elections are coming up at the end of October and this has also affected the start of the league, because the administrators are playing mind games with each other in their attempts to win seats.I am appealing to all administrators who are influential in resolving some of the crisis situations in football to be considerate enough towards the progress of the game and bring an end to the current problems.Opportunism from some individuals in trying to become the leaders in the game has basically tumbled the whole game into chaos and it will really be good if they start seeing it from a different angle.The bottom line is that unresolved issues should be brought to an end soon for the sake of football.Sponsors are spending millions on the game and they are the ones who are left embarrassed in the end, because the ones in charge are failing to professionally run the game and the execution of their duties has proven to be extremely poor.Stop the fights in the boardrooms and let the players do what they do best – play football.