From The Sidelines

AN epic race for survival among the executive members of the Namibia Football Association (NFA) has begun ahead of the body’s ordinary congress, which is due in just over two weeks.

Some members, whose positions will be at stake at the congress on July 23, have already engaged in some ruthless campaigning to first secure their re-election. Well, that has been the order for years, but there is no point in the current executive members campaigning for re-election, as they have not proven to be the right people for the job for years now.Testimony to this is the current state in which the game finds itself.It is only in Namibia where you find that the winners of the league have not seen or touched their trophy, weeks after the last league match.It is only in Namibia where one finds that teams that need to be promoted have not yet competed in any play-offs, long after the league has ended.It is only in Namibia where disciplinary cases, appeals and arbitration cases are handled long after the league has ended.It is only in Namibia where the winners of the various divisions, including the premier league teams, have not been rewarded for their efforts at an official prize-giving ceremony – once again, long after the season has ended.It is only in Namibia where the football authorities apply the same rules, but differently, depending on which team is involved.And it is only in Namibia where a president, vice president, treasurer and one additional executive member cannot be challenged in elections.Mind you, these people were elected to office at more or less the same time.These are some of the harsh realities facing Namibian football, but only at the expense of a few individuals, who in this case are holding the game at ransom.Now, with the elections in sight, one wonders who will challenge the incumbents, as they apparently already have the support of the regions to keep them in office.It has been all talk from the public on the current corrupt and incompetent football authorities.But what can be done about it? This will be the chance of any individual to stand up and campaign for the positions that will be up for grabs at the congress.The suspension of NFA second vice president Salomo Naukushu on allegations of waging a secret campaign to oust his colleagues, and eventually president Petrus Damaseb, shows that some of the members want a change of power in football.It would be a big loss to the game if Naukushu, who is one of the few executive members with a frank approach to football matters, is ultimately sacked.The man has shown that he wants to turn things around in football, but unfortunately he is surrounded by the wrong people who saw fit to suspend him because he now appears to be a threat to them.It is such a pity that some people cannot stand competition and eventually resort to dirty tricks to achieve their goals.One might argue that it is wrong to deal behind the backs of your colleagues.But sport is similar to politics when it comes to who should grab which positions.I don’t regard it as a sin for somebody to campaign against his colleagues if he is fed up with how things are run.Naukushu thought the only strategy open to him was to use some regional representatives to campaign against the incumbent members for possible change in the game.Anyone out there who wishes to challenge for these positions can now stand up, just as Naukushu did, and make your voices be heard.Some football lovers and potential administrators now have the chance to get entry into the high echelons of the game by engaging in their own campaigns.Namibia is a democratic country and certain individuals cannot hold the entire nation at gunpoint.The premiership club officials are also to blame for the current chaos in which the game finds itself.These officials never push for change and this has affected their clubs negatively for years now.It has just been a lot of talk for some time now.Clubs can actually bring the entire administration of football to a standstill, provided they stand together and push for the ousting of the leadership.There are channels, for example through the Namibia Sport Commission (NSC), that can see the current administration fall flat on its back, if clubs decide to take a stance.South African glamour sides Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates some years ago broke away from an administration they thought was not to the benefit of football and formed their own league.Other teams joined them and today, the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) has a high standing.The point is, if football is not run for the benefit of all who are involved in it, what is the point of sticking to the same authorities who do not have a desire to serve the interests of the game.But for now, let’s wait for the congress and see if other individuals can pick up some votes and get elected to the positions that will be open then.Well, that has been the order for years, but there is no point in the current executive members campaigning for re-election, as they have not proven to be the right people for the job for years now.Testimony to this is the current state in which the game finds itself.It is only in Namibia where you find that the winners of the league have not seen or touched their trophy, weeks after the last league match.It is only in Namibia where one finds that teams that need to be promoted have not yet competed in any play-offs, long after the league has ended.It is only in Namibia where disciplinary cases, appeals and arbitration cases are handled long after the league has ended.It is only in Namibia where the winners of the various divisions, including the premier league teams, have not been rewarded for their efforts at an official prize-giving ceremony – once again, long after the season has ended.It is only in Namibia where the football authorities apply the same rules, but differently, depending on which team is involved.And it is only in Namibia where a president, vice president, treasurer and one additional executive member cannot be challenged in elections.Mind you, these people were elected to office at more or less the same time.These are some of the harsh realities facing Namibian football, but only at the expense of a few individuals, who in this case are holding the game at ransom.Now, with the elections in sight, one wonders who will challenge the incumbents, as they apparently already have the support of the regions to keep them in office.It has been all talk from the public on the current corrupt and incompetent football authorities.But what can be done about it? This will be the chance of any individual to stand up and campaign for the positions that will be up for grabs at the congress.The suspension of NFA second vice president Salomo Naukushu on allegations of waging a secret campaign to oust his colleagues, and eventually president Petrus Damaseb, shows that some of the members want a change of power in football.It would be a big loss to the game if Naukushu, who is one of the few executive members with a frank approach to football matters, is ultimately sacked.The man has shown that he wants to turn things around in football, but unfortunately he is surrounded by the wrong people who saw fit to suspend him because he now appears to be a threat to them.It is such a pity that some people cannot stand competition and eventually resort to dirty tricks to achieve their goals.One might argue that it is wrong to deal behind the backs of your colleagues.But sport is similar to politics when it comes to who should grab which positions.I don’t regard it as a sin for somebody to campaign against his colleagues if he is fed up with how things are run.Naukushu thought the only strategy open to him was to use some regional representatives to campaign against the incumbent members for possible change in the game.Anyone out there who wishes to challenge for these positions can now stand up, just as Naukushu did, and make your voices be heard.Some football lovers and potential administrators now have the chance to get entry into the high echelons of the game by engaging in their own campaigns.Namibia
is a democratic country and certain individuals cannot hold the entire nation at gunpoint.The premiership club officials are also to blame for the current chaos in which the game finds itself.These officials never push for change and this has affected their clubs negatively for years now.It has just been a lot of talk for some time now.Clubs can actually bring the entire administration of football to a standstill, provided they stand together and push for the ousting of the leadership. There are channels, for example through the Namibia Sport Commission (NSC), that can see the current administration fall flat on its back, if clubs decide to take a stance.South African glamour sides Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates some years ago broke away from an administration they thought was not to the benefit of football and formed their own league.Other teams joined them and today, the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) has a high standing.The point is, if football is not run for the benefit of all who are involved in it, what is the point of sticking to the same authorities who do not have a desire to serve the interests of the game.But for now, let’s wait for the congress and see if other individuals can pick up some votes and get elected to the positions that will be open then.