NPL trim CEO shortlist

THE Namibia Premier League is down to the final half a dozen candidates for the position of chief executive officer, said league administrator Josua Hoebeb.

The unidentified six will be trimmed to one on 10 March, when the NPL executive runs the rule over them.

Hoebeb said they received 55 applications for the vacant position, which was last occupied in 2011 before Matthew Haikali’s unceremonious exit.

Part of the NPL’s well-documented failures over the years have been down to the absence of a full-time administrative head to oversee the organisation’s functions. That responsibility fell to the chairman who, in the case of former NPL supremo Johnny Doëseb, was too pre-occupied with personal business interests to the detriment of the football body.

The six came from a group of 10 announced early last month, and are seen as having the qualities required to overhaul the NPL’s lax secretariat.

“The executive will review the remaining applications, and take a decision to appoint the CEO,” Hoebeb said.

Additionally, “the NPL board of governors resolved to appoint standing committee chairpersons,” he noted.

The committees’ heads were due to co-opt three additional members each on Wednesday.

The finance committee will be led by Lucas Nanyemba of Tigers FC; while Orlando Pirates’ Niklaas Kisilipile is the audit and compliance committee head; Paulus Ngolombe of Tura Magic is the NPL competitions organising committee chair; Cyril Isaacs heads the technical and development committee; Blue Waters’ Franco Cosmos is in charge of the legal committee; Ricardo Uirab of Chief Santos is tasked with the youth football committee senior role; and Evaristus Evaristus of the University of Namibia was tasked to lead the medical committee.

Also on the NPL executive’s agenda on 10 March is Tigers’ supposed dismissed case for missing the opening two league matches of the season, which according to Hoebeb is not finalised yet.

While the NPL, through their lawyer Slysken Makando withdrew the court case, the executive will still “pronounce itself on the matter”.

That pronouncement is whether or not Tigers will replay matches against Citizens and Unam.

UPWARD TRAJECTORY

What is certain is that Tigers have recovered impressively from their first round woes since the turn of the year, and will be looking to continue that upward trajectory this weekend when they travel to Young Chiefs (15h00), who lie 13th, tomorrow, and bottom side Chief Santos (15h00) at Oshakati and Tsumeb on Sunday.

Eighth-placed Tigers will fancy their chances of adding six more points to the 16 they amassed from 18 on offer since the start of the second leg.

On Saturday, Santos will hope to avoid another hiding, following Sunday’s 8-1 walloping at Eleven Arrows, when they also host fourth-placed Tura Magic (15h00), who then play Young Chiefs the following day (15h00).

Second-last Rundu Chiefs are poor travellers, and face a daunting task against log-leaders African Stars on Saturday (17h00) and fellow strugglers Civics on Sunday (13h00).

Stars, who have experienced indifferent form in the second round thus far, will on Sunday be eyeing further improvement against the unpredictable sixth-placed Mighty Gunners (17h00), who face Civics a day earlier (19h00).

Life Fighters have not enjoyed their return to the top flight much, and are fighting to retain their place in the elite league.

On Saturday, they host coastal sides Arrows (15h00), and then Blue Waters on Sunday (15h00). Waters and Arrows’ weekend assignments also include playing Orlando Pirates on Saturday (15h00) and Sunday (15h00), respectively.

Black Africa and Citizens get the ball rolling when they clash at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Friday night (20h00).

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