AS preparations for the annual The Namibian Newspaper Cup gather momentum, the organisers are working on eliminating age cheating from the popular youth competition in a bid to level the playing field.
A number of irregularities regarding players’ ages and identities have cropped up since the lowering of the tournament’s age requirement in 2004 from under 23 to under 20. Most recently, the tournament’s best player, Sam Iipinge, was found to have used a false identity. Iipinge is in fact 20-year-old Emilio Martin, formerly of Namibia Premier League outfit Orlando Pirates and now part of Ramblers. He had been masquerading as 18-year-old Iipinge for eventual champions Khomas Region. The NFA’s Tim Isaacs, who forms part of the organising team, said for this year’s edition the regions will be expected to produce a preliminary squad of 50 players by mid-February. These players’ identities will then be scrutinised at the Home Affairs Ministry before a final selection can be made.The organisers have also proposed that players register with their identity documents or passports to more strictly verify their age, as opposed to birth certificates or affidavits in future tournaments. ‘After we have checked with the relevant ministry we will send these names back and any regularities will be taken up,’ said Isaacs.’We have already sent a memo to the regions today,’ he added. Isaacs said the preliminary squads will be published in the media and he urged people to be on the lookout for possible cheats. ‘It would be helpful if the community can help to verify the names,’ he said. ‘They know the players better than we do.’In the meantime, the organisers will check in with this year’s local organising committee in the Omaheke Region on Friday. Said Isaacs: ‘We will be travelling to Gobabis for a follow-up visit. We will basically inspect the facilities and see what progress has been made on shortcomings that were picked up on our last visit.’We will also engage business people in the region to see how they can come on board.’sheefeni@namibian.com.na
