From the Sidelines

JUST when we thought that Namibian football would get into a different gear after the recent congress which elected new office bearers, top officials at Soccer House decided to apparently force what they call a new league format down the throats of its affiliates in the first division.

The format, which was approved by the former NFA Executive Committee on August 24 in 2004, only came to light in recent weeks, with the clubs in the first division now to be thrown into what is called the Southern Stream and the Northern Stream. Here is how the NFA wants it to be: The current Central West First Division and the Southern Zone (also existing) will now be known as the Southern Stream.At this stage, it has not been determined which divisions would be consolidated into the Northern Stream.The whole idea is to only have 12 teams in the two Streams.The first phase, according the NFA, involves clubs that ended second and seventh in the respective divisions last season and they ought to play promotion play-offs to determine on a knock-out basis the six winners to be part of the particular stream.Phase two involves six clubs which failed to qualify for promotion at the first playoffs.They will play in another promotional playoff with winners of the second division on a round-robin basis to determine who will be promoted to join the six teams that have won through the first phase.This system has angered many football officials in the regions, with the majority complaining that they were not informed properly about the new format, with some claiming that it was news to them.But the NFA claims that the regional representatives knew about the changes that were about to be introduced at the beginning of the new season, let alone after the decision was taken in August last year.This has now become an embarrassment for the NFA as they are seen as not consulting their affiliates when making decisions.The point is, both the NFA and the clubs in the respective divisions are at fault because it appears that there was a huge communication gap.Or is it a deliberate move from the clubs because they fear competition with the downsizing of the league? Generally, when the NFA makes rules, all parties, especially the regional chairpersons, are involved in the process because this decision I understand was implemented at Congress.Regional chairpersons sit in Congress.I just cannot comprehend how the clubs did not know about it or have little knowledge about it.It is just unbelievable how the two parties are now at loggerheads over an issue that they were supposed to handle in a more co-ordinated manner.The NFA should have involved the affiliates from the word go, and the affiliates should have made an effort to get a better understanding of the new format, or they could even have advised or made recommendations on what the best system would be for the lower-division leagues.But I also think that the regional chairpersons should take more responsibility because some of them have kept clubs in their regions in the dark about these changes.In principle, the idea of having two Streams is not a bad idea, because it is aimed at streamlining the leagues to have more competitive teams.The fewer teams, the more competition and less congestion in fixtures each season.Without favouring either of the two parties, I think relations between the NFA and the clubs in the lower divisions should be strengthened.In fact, it is not the first time that clubs in the lower divisions have complained about new rules, format of play or other changes that were made without the NFA checking with them.The NFA is forging ahead with the playoffs in Mariental this weekend and has threatened that teams that do not pitch up will automatically relegate themselves to the second division.This problem between the NFA and the affiliates is bound to turn into a fiasco, and it will be advisable for the NFA to find common ground with the clubs before the playoffs take place.Here is how the NFA wants it to be: The current Central West First Division and the Southern Zone (also existing) will now be known as the Southern Stream.At this stage, it has not been determined which divisions would be consolidated into the Northern Stream.The whole idea is to only have 12 teams in the two Streams.The first phase, according the NFA, involves clubs that ended second and seventh in the respective divisions last season and they ought to play promotion play-offs to determine on a knock-out basis the six winners to be part of the particular stream.Phase two involves six clubs which failed to qualify for promotion at the first playoffs.They will play in another promotional playoff with winners of the second division on a round-robin basis to determine who will be promoted to join the six teams that have won through the first phase.This system has angered many football officials in the regions, with the majority complaining that they were not informed properly about the new format, with some claiming that it was news to them.But the NFA claims that the regional representatives knew about the changes that were about to be introduced at the beginning of the new season, let alone after the decision was taken in August last year.This has now become an embarrassment for the NFA as they are seen as not consulting their affiliates when making decisions.The point is, both the NFA and the clubs in the respective divisions are at fault because it appears that there was a huge communication gap.Or is it a deliberate move from the clubs because they fear competition with the downsizing of the league? Generally, when the NFA makes rules, all parties, especially the regional chairpersons, are involved in the process because this decision I understand was implemented at Congress.Regional chairpersons sit in Congress.I just cannot comprehend how the clubs did not know about it or have little knowledge about it.It is just unbelievable how the two parties are now at loggerheads over an issue that they were supposed to handle in a more co-ordinated manner.The NFA should have involved the affiliates from the word go, and the affiliates should have made an effort to get a better understanding of the new format, or they could even have advised or made recommendations on what the best system would be for the lower-division leagues.But I also think that the regional chairpersons should take more responsibility because some of them have kept clubs in their regions in the dark about these changes.In principle, the idea of having two Streams is not a bad idea, because it is aimed at streamlining the leagues to have more competitive teams.The fewer teams, the more competition and less congestion in fixtures each season.Without favouring either of the two parties, I think relations between the NFA and the clubs in the lower divisions should be strengthened.In fact, it is not the first time that clubs in the lower divisions have complained about new rules, format of play or other changes that were made without the NFA checking with them.The NFA is forging ahead with the playoffs in Mariental this weekend and has threatened that teams that do not pitch up will automatically relegate themselves to the second division.This problem between the NFA and the affiliates is bound to turn into a fiasco, and it will be advisable for the NFA to find common ground with the clubs before the playoffs take place.