NNOC accused of wrecking own rules

QUINTON-STEELE Botes says the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) has wrecked its own rules, and in the process made a big mistake by suspending him from the body for two months.

Botes was suspended as an executive member of the Committee, after he defied orders not to speak to the media while at the Olympic Games which were held in Greece last month. Botes yesterday told The Namibian Sport that he has taken the legal route and will notify the NNOC Board within a week on his “unlawful suspension.”He said the NNOC was like an institution which organises a game, make rules and at the same time wrecks them, while playing the game.He said the NNOC did not follow the rules as he believes that it was not the full board which suspended him, but only two individuals.He singled out NNOC President Agnes Tjongarero and Secretary General Daan Nel as the masterminds to push him off the ship.He further said there was no hearing held before his suspension, which makes it illegal, while he was not notified, in writing, of what he had done wrong.Botes, who has served on the NNOC executive for 10 years now, also intends to ask the committee why he was not accorded national colours when the team left for Athens.He will also ask them why he was not allowed to be part of the Namibian team during the marching in ceremony at the opening of the Games.The embattled athletics coach was instructed to keep away from giving commentary to the radio or issue press releases to other media before, during and after the Games.The ban came after Botes blasted officials, especially the NNOC and the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) for wasting money on sending more officials than athletes to the Games.He proposed the money could have been used for sports development in the country.Nel said the decision was taken by the full board at a meeting on Wednesday last week.”We took the decision on the basis that he did not adhere to the instructions by the NNOC not to speak to the media because he went on the expense of the NNOC,” Nel said.Asked on the legal proceedings Botes was considering, Nel said the NNOC has not received any letter and cannot comment on it.”We will wait for that to make our official stand.But for now he has been suspended for two months and has to wait until the congress in November if he wants to become a member again,” he said.Botes can be re-elected to the committee if he is nominated by a sports association or federation at the congress, which is billed for mid November.The current NNOC executive members are Tjongarero, Nel, Leon Hemmes (Treasurer) with Marieta Erenstein, Sonya Lindemeyer, Abner Xoagub, Van Wyk du Plessis and Frank Fredericks all serving as members.Initially there were supposed to be ten executive members on the committee.Botes said he would campaign for other people to be elected in positions at the congress as he regards the current leadership as “not serving the people.””I will campaign for people who are willing to serve the sport and work for the people.They should be there to serve, not to break down,” he said.Botes accused the NNOC of wanting to be “untouchables as it suits them.””If they get away with this case of mine, they will get away with murder tomorrow,” he said.Botes yesterday told The Namibian Sport that he has taken the legal route and will notify the NNOC Board within a week on his “unlawful suspension.”He said the NNOC was like an institution which organises a game, make rules and at the same time wrecks them, while playing the game.He said the NNOC did not follow the rules as he believes that it was not the full board which suspended him, but only two individuals.He singled out NNOC President Agnes Tjongarero and Secretary General Daan Nel as the masterminds to push him off the ship.He further said there was no hearing held before his suspension, which makes it illegal, while he was not notified, in writing, of what he had done wrong.Botes, who has served on the NNOC executive for 10 years now, also intends to ask the committee why he was not accorded national colours when the team left for Athens.He will also ask them why he was not allowed to be part of the Namibian team during the marching in ceremony at the opening of the Games.The embattled athletics coach was instructed to keep away from giving commentary to the radio or issue press releases to other media before, during and after the Games.The ban came after Botes blasted officials, especially the NNOC and the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) for wasting money on sending more officials than athletes to the Games.He proposed the money could have been used for sports development in the country.Nel said the decision was taken by the full board at a meeting on Wednesday last week.”We took the decision on the basis that he did not adhere to the instructions by the NNOC not to speak to the media because he went on the expense of the NNOC,” Nel said.Asked on the legal proceedings Botes was considering, Nel said the NNOC has not received any letter and cannot comment on it.”We will wait for that to make our official stand.But for now he has been suspended for two months and has to wait until the congress in November if he wants to become a member again,” he said.Botes can be re-elected to the committee if he is nominated by a sports association or federation at the congress, which is billed for mid November.The current NNOC executive members are Tjongarero, Nel, Leon Hemmes (Treasurer) with Marieta Erenstein, Sonya Lindemeyer, Abner Xoagub, Van Wyk du Plessis and Frank Fredericks all serving as members.Initially there were supposed to be ten executive members on the committee.Botes said he would campaign for other people to be elected in positions at the congress as he regards the current leadership as “not serving the people.””I will campaign for people who are willing to serve the sport and work for the people.They should be there to serve, not to break down,” he said.Botes accused the NNOC of wanting to be “untouchables as it suits them.””If they get away with this case of mine, they will get away with murder tomorrow,” he said.