Futsal’s return in Namibia was temporarily halted, with the outcome of one of the weekend’s NFA Cup Last 16 matches still pending.
Since the league was concluded last October there has been no futsal action so far this year, but the sport was revived with the NFA Cup competition this month.
First and second division sides contested the preliminary rounds, with the winners going through to join the Premier League sides in the Round of 16 matches last weekend.
First division side Maxi FC came up against Premier League heavyweights X Men, and gave a good account of themselves before losing the match 6-4.
Maxi FC, however, appealed against the outcome, saying X Men used an ineligible player.
The matter has now been referred to the NFA competitions office, Futsal Namibia spokesperson Greyeno Rusberg says.
“Maxi FC has appealed against an ineligible player X Men used in their match against them. The player was registered with a second division club, Polaris FC, as well as X Men, so we referred it back to the NFA competitions office and are waiting for them to give us feedback on that,” he says.
“X Men were informed that the player in question is double-registered and we asked them to remove him, but they continued to use him,” he says.
Apart from the pending case there were no other upsets, although Selecao FC of Swakopmund eliminated premier league side Windhoek Futsal Club 7-3.
Selecao, who won the league three years ago, were relegated to the first division after finishing bottom of the premier league last year, but that was mostly due to financial difficulties, Rusberg says.
“Selecao couldn’t travel to Windhoek for their matches because they were financially stricken, so they had to forfeit their matches from about the second round of the league. That resulted in them finishing bottom of the log, so they were relegated to the first division along with 7Kings and Flying Five,” he says.
Selecao will meet the winner between X Men and Maxi FC in the quarter-finals this coming weekend.
In other Round of 16 matches, 2025 premier league league champions Chile FC beat Julinho FC 3-1 to book a quarter-final place against Ragazzi FC, who beat Woodsoccer FC 6-3.
Premier League runners-up Quality FC beat Demia FC 5-0 and they will now meet EFG Patriots, who beat Ineos FC 5-2.
Ballers FC beat Samba Boys 6-4 to book a quarter-final place against Boston Madrid, who beat WIAS FC 3-1.
The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final take place at the Windhoek Showgrounds this coming weekend.
Rusberg, meanwhile, says Futsal Namibia hopes to get the league running again soon, although financial constraints were also hampering them.
“Our next step is to start the league after this cup competition. We’ve been renting the hall at the Windhoek Showgrounds, but it’s not financially viable, so we’re looking for alternative venues,” he says.
