THE age cheaters operating in the Namibia Premier League (NPL) will be happy to know that no investigation has been launched into their dishonest conduct.
The NPL has left the matter to the NFA who in turn said it was the league administrators’ responsibility to inform the domestic football mother body of irregularities within it’s realm. The football association said it could not begin an investigation without official notification from the NPL.
According to the NFA’s contact person on the matter, Titus Kunamuene – who doubles as the associations head of competitions – his office had initiated proceedings for the investigation by requesting the NPL to furnish the relevant information weeks ago.’I went to the NPL’s office and requested information on the implicated players from the NPL the day after the story appeared in the (Namibian) newspaper but I have not received anything yet,’ Kunamuene said.’In fact, the NPL are supposed to inform us about this matter and should not wait for us to go to them,’ he said. ‘The last time I spoke to (NPL CEO Matthew) Haikali he said they are busy compiling the information. However Haikali said he had only ‘heard’ of Kunamuene’s request yesterday, while confirming that Kunamuene had been to his office. ‘I have not received communication in that regard,’ Haikali said when first approached for comment. ‘The only thing I know is that he has requested for something today.’Last month The Namibian Sport learnt that about 40 players currently plying their trade in the country’s elite football league, had lied about their age. The implicated players’ underhand antics were uncovered following the introduction of a new stringent registration system by the NPL this season.For the new season, a player is required to register with their identity document or passport to more strictly verify their age, as opposed to birth certificates or affidavits. Of the 12 premier league clubs only Civics, Oshakati City, Tigers and Mighty Gunners are not implicated. The age-cheating fiasco broke when Oshikandela Ramblers’ Emilio Martin was found to have allegedly falsified his documents in order to become eligible for junior football competition. The 20 year-old Martin had allegedly been masquerading as Sem Iipinge – who is two years his junior – whilst playing for Orlando Pirates last season. Iipinge was voted player of the tournament during this year’s The Namibian Newspaper Cup, an accolade he is likely to be stripped off, should he be found guilty. According to Kunamuene, ‘there is no standard punishment’ for falsifying one’s age in football. He said he will only be able to investigate when the NPL furnished him with the necessary information. ‘This happened in their league and they cannot say it is the NFA’s job. It involves both parties.’sheefeni@namibian.com.na
