The Namibia Football Association (NFA) is urgently addressing stadium safety concerns for spectators, players, and officials following recent pitch-side altercations.
NFA spokesperson Isack Hamata says safety is of great concern to the association.
Hamata this week told Desert FM this includes the safety of spectators, officials, players, service providers and vendors.
“We look at safety holistically, so every other day we look at how to improve the safety of everybody at the stadium.
“Unfortunately, we have had two incidents which are not condoned in any manner or form,” he said.
Hamata says the NFA wants to assure the public that it does not want to put people at risk of being attacked or caught in a skirmish.
During the past and current football season, the public has witnessed altercations and physical threats from the technical benches of some clubs.
This was seen as disrupting the image of football in the country.
“Again we apologise for the incidents which were obviously not accepted very well by those who attended, and which must not happen. We cannot be happy with things like that,” Hamata said.
“Increasingly, we look at ways to make sure security is properly established at all our match venues . . . These are isolated incidents considering how many matches have been played all over the country.”
He said such incidents have been drastically minimised thanks to certain measures put in place.
“Every opportunity is a learning opportunity to see how you can provide protection to everybody at football matches.
“The procurement of security services is centralised. The league office secures security services on behalf of the home team.”
Hamata said if a coach is slapped with a red card, he/she must sit out two matches.
He said the incident between Young African FC and Okahandja United will be dealt with based on the referee’s report, which will determine the correct measures to be taken.
“Although isolated, we cannot encourage such incidents. There are mechanisms and measures to make sure the perpetrator is rained on through the rules and regulations and the NFA disciplinary code,” Hamata said.
BREAKING FOR CHRISTMAS
Hamata said league action will take a break during the festive season, with the final matches scheduled from 19 to 21 December.
“We will then resume the second week in January 2026 around three days before the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is concluded in Morocco.
“Namibians are accommodated to watch the cup. It’s festive season, and everybody will be in the comfort of their family homes, with friends and whoever and at holiday destinations, and they will be watching Afcon and whatever else.”
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