Gaweseb fired, Rukoro acting

THE Namibia Football Association (NFA) yesterday fired its secretary general, Alpheus Gaweseb, and appointed Barry Rukoro in an acting capacity until the position has been advertised, it was announced yesterday.

NFA spokesman Beau Kauta told journalists yesterday that Gaweseb has been put on ‘forced leave’ for two months while Rukoro, the current co-ordinator of the association’s disciplinary committee, will be acting as secretary general. Kauta said the position would be advertised within the next two months, saying that Gaweseb was also free to apply if he felt up to the task.Another move that was confirmed was that current Civics administrative secretary Tim Isaacks will be the new team manager of the Brave Warriors, replacing Markus Damaseb.Damaseb, also a former executive committee member, is said to have largely failed in dealing with the logistics of the senior team.The decision to fire Gaweseb, whose contract would only have expired in February 2008, was taken by the executive committee of the body at its meeting in Gobabis over the weekend.The executive felt that Gaweseb had failed to run the association satisfactorily, while Kauta said that he did not fulfil some of the key responsibilities that he was tasked with.But, according football pundits it would not be an easy ride for NFA to get rid of Gaweseb, as the latter may resort to the courts to challenge the ‘dismissal’.The Namibian Sport tried to reach Gaweseb on both his mobile phones, but to no avail.As it stands now, Gaweseb will not be considered for the job even if he applies, but the association did not make it clear whether he was fired because of any disciplinary cases that were brought against him.Gaweseb has the right to appeal his dismissal according to the law, as his contract was never renewed when it expired last year, sources at Soccer House say.According to NFA sources, the association wants Rukoro for the secretary general’s position and advertising the position would just be a formality.Rukoro served as the master campaigner for new NFA president John Muinjo in the race for the NFA presidency in the run-up to the October congress.Rukoro, who joined the NFA in September 1996, has served in various capacities within the ranks of the body, with the latest portfolio being the one of disciplinary committee co-ordinator.He also had a stint as the chief advisor to former NFA president, Petrus Damaseb.He has gained extensive experience in the administration of the game and recently completed a high-level administrators’ course of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Gabon.He also completed the Uefa progress course for administrators in Lithuania – which is regarded as the top course in the world for football managers – and a high-level CAF administration course in Botswana.Rukoro, who turns 40 next month, also attended the Futuro Fifa course on administration, which took place in Namibia, and received a certificate at an Olympic Solidarity course presented in Botswana.He also gained knowledge in marketing after attending a seminar organised by Fifa in Botswana.Rukoro said he will not sit on his laurels and wait for work to come to him, but will initiate activities that need to be carried out, while he also plans to bring in changes wherever he can.”I want to accelerate the activities of football.I want to help the association move forward and want to create a platform for whoever takes over to continue with that on a sound foundation,” he said.He thanked the executive for the confidence they have shown in making him act in the SG capacity, while he also asked the media to give him an opportunity to settle into his new role.Kauta said the position would be advertised within the next two months, saying that Gaweseb was also free to apply if he felt up to the task.Another move that was confirmed was that current Civics administrative secretary Tim Isaacks will be the new team manager of the Brave Warriors, replacing Markus Damaseb.Damaseb, also a former executive committee member, is said to have largely failed in dealing with the logistics of the senior team.The decision to fire Gaweseb, whose contract would only have expired in February 2008, was taken by the executive committee of the body at its meeting in Gobabis over the weekend.The executive felt that Gaweseb had failed to run the association satisfactorily, while Kauta said that he did not fulfil some of the key responsibilities that he was tasked with.But, according football pundits it would not be an easy ride for NFA to get rid of Gaweseb, as the latter may resort to the courts to challenge the ‘dismissal’.The Namibian Sport tried to reach Gaweseb on both his mobile phones, but to no avail.As it stands now, Gaweseb will not be considered for the job even if he applies, but the association did not make it clear whether he was fired because of any disciplinary cases that were brought against him.Gaweseb has the right to appeal his dismissal according to the law, as his contract was never renewed when it expired last year, sources at Soccer House say.According to NFA sources, the association wants Rukoro for the secretary general’s position and advertising the position would just be a formality.Rukoro served as the master campaigner for new NFA president John Muinjo in the race for the NFA presidency in the run-up to the October congress.Rukoro, who joined the NFA in September 1996, has served in various capacities within the ranks of the body, with the latest portfolio being the one of disciplinary committee co-ordinator.He also had a stint as the chief advisor to former NFA president, Petrus Damaseb.He has gained extensive experience in the administration of the game and recently completed a high-level administrators’ course of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Gabon.He also completed the Uefa progress course for administrators in Lithuania – which is regarded as the top course in the world for football managers – and a high-level CAF administration course in Botswana.Rukoro, who turns 40 next month, also attended the Futuro Fifa course on administration, which took place in Namibia, and received a certificate at an Olympic Solidarity course presented in Botswana.He also gained knowledge in marketing after attending a seminar organised by Fifa in Botswana.Rukoro said he will not sit on his laurels and wait for work to come to him, but will initiate activities that need to be carried out, while he also plans to bring in changes wherever he can.”I want to accelerate the activities of football.I want to help the association move forward and want to create a platform for whoever takes over to continue with that on a sound foundation,” he said.He thanked the executive for the confidence they have shown in making him act in the SG capacity, while he also asked the media to give him an opportunity to settle into his new role.