NFA snub media at congress

THE Namibia Football Association (NFA) snubbed the mainstream media at its 15th Ordinary Congress, which was held secretly at Soccer House in Windhoek last Saturday.

The Congress, which was postponed on numerous occasions, came and went with the four dailies and the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation’s (NBC) television and radio services not in attendance to cover the proceedings. NFA spokesperson Cassius Moetie told The Namibia Sport yesterday there was an “oversight” by the office staff not inviting the media to the gathering, which is largely attended by the respective regional football representatives.The congress, due at the end of July, was postponed several times, leaving the media in the dark about the actual date.The Namibian Sportestablished that media institutions such as Republikein, New Era, Allgemeine Zeitung, both the television and radio services of the NBC, as well as the Namibia Press Agency, did not receive formal invitations, nor were they notified about the date in advance.The Namibian Sport was also not invited.NBC TV manager for sport, Carlos Kambaekwa, confirmed that there was no formal invitation.He said they were called towards the the end of the Congress to cover it, but only headed over for an interview.Namibia Press Agency sports editor Natasha Diergaardt, said she had no idea about the congress, but confirmed receipt of the resolutions taken at the gathering on Monday.”We did not send a reporter to cover it as we were not aware at all,” she said.Boet Matthews, the sports editor of the Afrikaans daily Republikein, said he knew nothing about the congress and had not seen any invitation nor did he receive any telephone call to inform him about it.Allgemeine Zeitung’s, Andreas Shiyoo, said he was shocked to hear that the congress actually took place without them being called to report on it.”I was not invited and it is so disappointing to hear this, because people out there will not know about the decisions that have been taken by the football authorities on the state of the game in the country,” he said.Moetie said despite the absence of the media, the congress went ahead as planned with several resolutions coming to the fore.Attempts to obtain comment from NFA president, Petrus Damaseb, and the secretary general, Alpheus Gaweseb, proved futile.One of the key decisions taken at the congress was that Salomo Naukushu, become the second vice president of the association with immediate effect.Naukushu’s appointment was endorsed by congress after a decision was taken at an earlier executive meeting of the football governing body.Naukushu currently serves as the chairman of the Khomas Football Region, and his main priorities will be administering and co-ordinating football activities from the NFA headquarters.Damaseb, according to Moetie, received the nod from the delegates to continue serving football despite being appointed permanently as a judge of the High Court.His term as president expires in 2007.Moetie said the congress unanimously also approved the financial reports and budget of the cash-strapped body.The kick-off for the 2004/05 football season has been set for September 25.NFA spokesperson Cassius Moetie told The Namibia Sport yesterday there was an “oversight” by the office staff not inviting the media to the gathering, which is largely attended by the respective regional football representatives.The congress, due at the end of July, was postponed several times, leaving the media in the dark about the actual date.The Namibian Sportestablished that media institutions such as Republikein, New Era, Allgemeine Zeitung, both the television and radio services of the NBC, as well as the Namibia Press Agency, did not receive formal invitations, nor were they notified about the date in advance.The Namibian Sport was also not invited.NBC TV manager for sport, Carlos Kambaekwa, confirmed that there was no formal invitation.He said they were called towards the the end of the Congress to cover it, but only headed over for an interview.Namibia Press Agency sports editor Natasha Diergaardt, said she had no idea about the congress, but confirmed receipt of the resolutions taken at the gathering on Monday.”We did not send a reporter to cover it as we were not aware at all,” she said.Boet Matthews, the sports editor of the Afrikaans daily Republikein, said he knew nothing about the congress and had not seen any invitation nor did he receive any telephone call to inform him about it.Allgemeine Zeitung’s, Andreas Shiyoo, said he was shocked to hear that the congress actually took place without them being called to report on it.”I was not invited and it is so disappointing to hear this, because people out there will not know about the decisions that have been taken by the football authorities on the state of the game in the country,” he said.Moetie said despite the absence of the media, the congress went ahead as planned with several resolutions coming to the fore.Attempts to obtain comment from NFA president, Petrus Damaseb, and the secretary general, Alpheus Gaweseb, proved futile.One of the key decisions taken at the congress was that Salomo Naukushu, become the second vice president of the association with immediate effect.Naukushu’s appointment was endorsed by congress after a decision was taken at an earlier executive meeting of the football governing body.Naukushu currently serves as the chairman of the Khomas Football Region, and his main priorities will be administering and co-ordinating football activities from the NFA headquarters.Damaseb, according to Moetie, received the nod from the delegates to continue serving football despite being appointed permanently as a judge of the High Court.His term as president expires in 2007.Moetie said the congress unanimously also approved the financial reports and budget of the cash-strapped body.The kick-off for the 2004/05 football season has been set for September 25.