NFA under fire over new division

THE Namibia Football Association (NFA) Executive Committee is under fire after it decided to abolish the former Central West First Division (CWFD) and replace it with the Southern Stream First Division ahead of the new season which kicks off this weekend.

Teams from the CWFD issued a press release in which they are blasting the NFA executive for flouting rules and not consulting them properly about the introduction of the new division. The CWFD, which is now regarded as non-existent by the NFA, stated that the NFA executive does not have the power to change the structures of a league without prior permission of the members and endorsed by the NFA Congress.The CWFD included teams from the south, central and the coast.But, according to Eric Hansen, vice chairperson of the NFA Organising and Competitions Committee who spearheaded the new restructuring, this is “water under the bridge” and the newly introduced division will kick off this weekend.”The NFA has taken the position that the league which has been introduced stays as is and that league matches for the new season will start with the teams that were promoted at the play-offs which were held in the south,” he said.But the CWFD also argues in the statement that the NFA executive committee does not have the mandate to dissolve the membership of an affiliate without the permission of the members and without it being endorsed by the NFA Congress.To this, Hansen said their membership was not stalled without consultation.”Information meetings were held on how the new structure would look like and there is no reason why they should view the process as illegal.We explained the format for the playoffs and all parties agreed that only 12 teams will be party to the league.”Hansen could, however, not provide the minutes of the meeting.In the statement, the CWFD claims that it never had any information meetings with the NFA and requested minutes of the NFA executive meetings where the decisions on the formation of the new league were made.The CWFD also requests the NFA to provide names of any CWFD member who attended the Congresses or information meetings where the decisions to scrap the league were taken.”We have not received any feedback or any effort to resolve this issue until today,” it said.One of the concerned members of the CWFD, Lance Willemse, told The Namibian Sport yesterday that they were disappointed with the attitude of the NFA regarding the matter and wanted the Namibia Sport Commission (NSC) to take steps against the association.”Although the NSC is not allowed to directly intervene in domestic matters of an association or federation, we feel that this matter is serious and it requires intervention from the highest possible sports body,” he said.But NSC chief administrator Rusten Mogane responded that they have discussed the matter with both parties before and are “trying to find a solution which will be in the their best interest”.Mogane confirmed that they had a meeting with all the concerned parties earlier, but failed to resolve the matter.He said they are planning another meeting with the NFA which is still due, but will issue the official position of the NSC on the matter once it has dealt with the football authorities.Hansen in the meantime said they have no problem in meeting with the NFA, but the 2005/2006 league season will start this weekend.”The teams that adhered to the call we made in bringing about this new league have received their league fixtures and will play their matches this weekend.We are not going to entertain anyone.They all had their chance,” said Hansen.The CWFD, which is now regarded as non-existent by the NFA, stated that the NFA executive does not have the power to change the structures of a league without prior permission of the members and endorsed by the NFA Congress.The CWFD included teams from the south, central and the coast.But, according to Eric Hansen, vice chairperson of the NFA Organising and Competitions Committee who spearheaded the new restructuring, this is “water under the bridge” and the newly introduced division will kick off this weekend.”The NFA has taken the position that the league which has been introduced stays as is and that league matches for the new season will start with the teams that were promoted at the play-offs which were held in the south,” he said.But the CWFD also argues in the statement that the NFA executive committee does not have the mandate to dissolve the membership of an affiliate without the permission of the members and without it being endorsed by the NFA Congress.To this, Hansen said their membership was not stalled without consultation.”Information meetings were held on how the new structure would look like and there is no reason why they should view the process as illegal.We explained the format for the playoffs and all parties agreed that only 12 teams will be party to the league.”Hansen could, however, not provide the minutes of the meeting.In the statement, the CWFD claims that it never had any information meetings with the NFA and requested minutes of the NFA executive meetings where the decisions on the formation of the new league were made.The CWFD also requests the NFA to provide names of any CWFD member who attended the Congresses or information meetings where the decisions to scrap the league were taken.”We have not received any feedback or any effort to resolve this issue until today,” it said.One of the concerned members of the CWFD, Lance Willemse, told The Namibian Sport yesterday that they were disappointed with the attitude of the NFA regarding the matter and wanted the Namibia Sport Commission (NSC) to take steps against the association.”Although the NSC is not allowed to directly intervene in domestic matters of an association or federation, we feel that this matter is serious and it requires intervention from the highest possible sports body,” he said.But NSC chief administrator Rusten Mogane responded that they have discussed the matter with both parties before and are “trying to find a solution which will be in the their best interest”.Mogane confirmed that they had a meeting with all the concerned parties earlier, but failed to resolve the matter.He said they are planning another meeting with the NFA which is still due, but will issue the official position of the NSC on the matter once it has dealt with the football authorities.Hansen in the meantime said they have no problem in meeting with the NFA, but the 2005/2006 league season will start this weekend.”The teams that adhered to the call we made in bringing about this new league have received their league fixtures and will play their matches this weekend.We are not going to entertain anyone.They all had their chance,” said Hansen.