NFA charges Swarts with misconduct

THE Namibia Football Association (NFA) this week instituted charges of misconduct against football official Willie Swartz, The Namibian Sport has established.

The NFA’s Disciplinary Committee coordinator, Barry Rukoro, issued a notification to Swarts on Monday, charging him with three counts of misconduct. He has been charged with bringing the NFA’s name into disrepute, failing to obey a lawful instruction, alternatively improper behaviour, and making improper or indecent remarks.This all happened during the NFA’s Congress which took place in Windhoek on October 28.Rukoro states that Swarts, in his capacity as the Southern Stream First Division chairperson, falsely accused Fifa development officer Ashford Mamelodi of being biased and thus acted in contravention with Rule 31 (h) of the NFA Rules and Regulations.On the second count, Rukoro said Swarts wilfully and intentionally refused to apologise for his insinuations when asked by Fifa representative Jerome Champagne to do so and acted in contravention of Rule 31 (h).The third charge states that Swarts publicly informed the media that the Fifa body was corrupt and thus acted in contravention of Rule 31.Swarts has been asked to reply to the charges within five days.”You are further notified that you may so wish deliver a written explanation regarding the misconduct charges against you,” stated Rukoro.When approached for comment yesterday, Swarts said it was an unfortunate move for football as a whole.”It is not in the interest of football at all.I have no comments on the charges at this stage, but I will reply in full to each one of the charges next week,” he said.Swarts said he will make a written submission regarding the charges to the NFA, but did not say if he would deny or admit the charges.Swarts, a well-known figure in Namibian football, was not happy with the way the congress was conducted as he felt that there were unresolved issues that had to be dealt with before the elections.His request fell on deaf ears, and he was subsequently shut out by Champagne, who insisted that one man could not hold the congress hostage.Swarts claimed that the elections were pre-determined and accused Champagne of being unfair, while he also referred to Fifa as a corrupt organisation.John Muinjo stood against Hendrik Dawids for the NFA presidency, which Muinjo ultimately won by nine votes to six.Swarts was one of the chief campaigners for Dawids to become the new president.He has been charged with bringing the NFA’s name into disrepute, failing to obey a lawful instruction, alternatively improper behaviour, and making improper or indecent remarks.This all happened during the NFA’s Congress which took place in Windhoek on October 28.Rukoro states that Swarts, in his capacity as the Southern Stream First Division chairperson, falsely accused Fifa development officer Ashford Mamelodi of being biased and thus acted in contravention with Rule 31 (h) of the NFA Rules and Regulations.On the second count, Rukoro said Swarts wilfully and intentionally refused to apologise for his insinuations when asked by Fifa representative Jerome Champagne to do so and acted in contravention of Rule 31 (h).The third charge states that Swarts publicly informed the media that the Fifa body was corrupt and thus acted in contravention of Rule 31.Swarts has been asked to reply to the charges within five days.”You are further notified that you may so wish deliver a written explanation regarding the misconduct charges against you,” stated Rukoro.When approached for comment yesterday, Swarts said it was an unfortunate move for football as a whole.”It is not in the interest of football at all.I have no comments on the charges at this stage, but I will reply in full to each one of the charges next week,” he said.Swarts said he will make a written submission regarding the charges to the NFA, but did not say if he would deny or admit the charges.Swarts, a well-known figure in Namibian football, was not happy with the way the congress was conducted as he felt that there were unresolved issues that had to be dealt with before the elections.His request fell on deaf ears, and he was subsequently shut out by Champagne, who insisted that one man could not hold the congress hostage.Swarts claimed that the elections were pre-determined and accused Champagne of being unfair, while he also referred to Fifa as a corrupt organisation.John Muinjo stood against Hendrik Dawids for the NFA presidency, which Muinjo ultimately won by nine votes to six.Swarts was one of the chief campaigners for Dawids to become the new president.