Keep under-17 tournament clean: Rukoro

WINDHOEK – The Namibia Football Association has called upon Council of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) members to ensure that the regional under-17 tournament does not become a haven for age cheats.

“I want to invite you, the officials (of Cosafa countries) to join forces and make sure that this competition remains for the benefit of those under the age of 17 years,” the NFA’s acting secretary general, Barry Rukoro said at a reception hosted for Cosafa organising committee members and team officials on Monday night. Rukoro said preserving the identity of the tournament would be the only way that the game of soccer in the southern African region will grow to match that of other parts of the continent.The Cosafa Under-17 championship started in Windhoek on Saturday.Questions are being asked about the real ages of some of the players who played like seasoned professionals.However, the honorary president of Cosafa, Bomber Mthethwa, gave the assurance at Monday night’s reception that honesty was still prevailing in southern African age group competitions.He also asked that Cosafa championships be kept free of age cheating.Meanwhile, Rukoro said the NFA will speak to Cosafa to be allowed to again host the Under-17 tournament in Windhoek next year and perhaps a few more years after that.”We want to grow this to be the best youth competition on the African continent.We hope that what we have started together with Cosafa in Windhoek this week is the birth of a wonderful project for the family of football in the region.We have tried to be good hosts under the circumstances but we know we have not been perfect,” he said.The semi-final matches are expected to be played today with the third-place playoff billed for Friday and the final on Saturday.NampaRukoro said preserving the identity of the tournament would be the only way that the game of soccer in the southern African region will grow to match that of other parts of the continent.The Cosafa Under-17 championship started in Windhoek on Saturday.Questions are being asked about the real ages of some of the players who played like seasoned professionals.However, the honorary president of Cosafa, Bomber Mthethwa, gave the assurance at Monday night’s reception that honesty was still prevailing in southern African age group competitions.He also asked that Cosafa championships be kept free of age cheating.Meanwhile, Rukoro said the NFA will speak to Cosafa to be allowed to again host the Under-17 tournament in Windhoek next year and perhaps a few more years after that.”We want to grow this to be the best youth competition on the African continent.We hope that what we have started together with Cosafa in Windhoek this week is the birth of a wonderful project for the family of football in the region.We have tried to be good hosts under the circumstances but we know we have not been perfect,” he said.The semi-final matches are expected to be played today with the third-place playoff billed for Friday and the final on Saturday.Nampa