JOHN Muinjo will remain the Namibian Football Association (NFA) president for the next four years after his landslide victory over challenger Ranga Haikali during Saturday’s elective congress.
Muinjo garnered 13 of the 16 votes to ensure another term in office at the NFA Soccer House. His vice president, Kornelius Kapenda, garnered 12 votes to Johnny Johnson Doëseb’s four.
The congress also elected Khomas Region’s David Goagoseb, Stefanus Shimbike of Caprivi, Oscar Mulonda from Kunene and Naftal Ngalangi from Kavango to serve alongside Oshana’s Frans Mbidi, Vaino Amukwa from Omusati and Jackey Gertze, who represents women’s football, on the executive committee.
Muinjo told The Namibian Sport that he was not surprised about the outcome as he knew the voting delegates would keep faith with him.
‘I was never worried at all,’ said Muinjo. ‘I was confident all the time and I knew I had done my homework. I have a very good bond with the members (of the NFA) over the years.’
He said the NFA would pick up from where it left off in its bid to upgrade Namibian football.
Muinjo said the immediate focus was to bring all the body’s members together in order to ‘implement’ and ‘consolidate programmes’. He also said the NFA would look into ways of acquiring additional financial sponsorships in order to ‘add value’ to the local game.
‘We will not lose focus on our development programmes to ensure the steady graduation at all levels of the game with a sustainable technical policy arrangement,’ he said.
Although Haikali conceded defeat and congratulated Muinjo on his victory, he said he was ‘disappointed by those who promised to support our cause but did not keep their promise’. He said he would not rule out the possibility of again challenging for the seat in future.
‘I accept defeat,’ he said. ‘This is not the end to my involvement in the football development of this country. It’s not about the position, it’s about adding value to football.’
He added that despite the victory, the NFA needed to address their shortcomings which he had pointed out during the run-up to the congress, including defusing the animosity that exists between the football association and the Namibia Premier League (NPL). Nonetheless he donated N$30 000 towards the NFA’s development projects as a ‘token of appreciation’.
‘I will advise the president of the NFA and the executive committee to seriously look at these issues. They must be addressed or they will lead to the downfall of our football.’
Muinjo said if need be, he would approach Haikali for assistance in future.
‘It (donation) was a great gesture from him. I respect that move. I will approach him if at all it is necessary,’ said Muinjo.
The chief administrator of the Namibia Sport Commission, Rusten Mogane, as well as Primo Carvaro, Fifa’s Manager for Member Associations, and Leodegar Tenga, Tanzania’s Football Association president, oversaw the congress.
