NFA to hunt for new secretary general soon

THE Namibia Football Association (NFA) will advertise the position of secretary general as soon as possible, NFA president John Muinjo said yesterday.

Barry Rukoro is currently the acting secretary general, but Muinjo said the position would be advertised immediately after the executive meeting of the association, which is scheduled for Otjiwarongo this Saturday. “The position of secretary general will be the focus point of the meeting.We need to find a suitable person as soon as possible,” Muinjo said.The position was supposed to be advertised in February after former SG Alpheus Gaweseb was fired because he failed to implement the activities of the association with success.Muinjo said the executive members found it difficult to meet over the past few months, as there were a lot of activities going on, including several international matches.He said most of the members also have day jobs and work commitments and these kept them from meeting and discussing the issue.Muinjo said the NFA regards the position as rather sensitive and did not want to dwell on what the job description would entail.At the moment, according the NFA constitution, the job of an SG is to implement decisions passed by the Congress and executive committee in compliance with the president’s directives.It says the SG should manage and keep the accounts of the NFA properly, while he or she can also appoint and dismiss staff working at the general secretariat.The SG also organises the congress and meetings of the executive committee, while he or she also proposes managerial staff to the president, as well as co-sign documents and cheques with the president.In the past, the secretary general was hand picked by the president, while there was also no specified term of office for the SG.According to the constitution, the secretary general should be appointed on the basis of an agreement governed by private law and must have the necessary professional qualifications.In the past, this rule was never applied.Muinjo said the members would also look at the NFA constitutional review process.After last year’s NFA congress, the NFA was instructed by the Federation of International Football Associations (Fifa) to amend its constitution, as it has several shortcomings.One of the shortcomings was that the association’s executive committee was too small and needed more people to avoid manipulation.Muinjo said they would also discuss the construction of an artificial football turf in Namibia.He said it would cost a lot of money to construct such a facility, which will possibly be at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Katutura.The members will also look at Fifa projects and programmes such as courses that have been ongoing.Fifa recently held a course in Windhoek for all stakeholders in football to improve relations for the betterment of the game.The course was attended by club officials, coaches, sports journalists and the NFA’s executive members.”The position of secretary general will be the focus point of the meeting.We need to find a suitable person as soon as possible,” Muinjo said.The position was supposed to be advertised in February after former SG Alpheus Gaweseb was fired because he failed to implement the activities of the association with success.Muinjo said the executive members found it difficult to meet over the past few months, as there were a lot of activities going on, including several international matches.He said most of the members also have day jobs and work commitments and these kept them from meeting and discussing the issue.Muinjo said the NFA regards the position as rather sensitive and did not want to dwell on what the job description would entail.At the moment, according the NFA constitution, the job of an SG is to implement decisions passed by the Congress and executive committee in compliance with the president’s directives.It says the SG should manage and keep the accounts of the NFA properly, while he or she can also appoint and dismiss staff working at the general secretariat.The SG also organises the congress and meetings of the executive committee, while he or she also proposes managerial staff to the president, as well as co-sign documents and cheques with the president.In the past, the secretary general was hand picked by the president, while there was also no specified term of office for the SG.According to the constitution, the secretary general should be appointed on the basis of an agreement governed by private law and must have the necessary professional qualifications.In the past, this rule was never applied.Muinjo said the members would also look at the NFA constitutional review process.After last year’s NFA congress, the NFA was instructed by the Federation of International Football Associations (Fifa) to amend its constitution, as it has several shortcomings.One of the shortcomings was that the association’s executive committee was too small and needed more people to avoid manipulation.Muinjo said they would also discuss the construction of an artificial football turf in Namibia.He said it would cost a lot of money to construct such a facility, which will possibly be at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Katutura.The members will also look at Fifa projects and programmes such as courses that have been ongoing.Fifa recently held a course in Windhoek for all stakeholders in football to improve relations for the betterment of the game.The course was attended by club officials, coaches, sports journalists and the NFA’s executive members.