Selection pains ahead of Newspaper Cup

KARAS football authorities responsible for finalising the regional team expected to compete in The Namibian Newspaper Cup over the Easter weekend, are still fighting over the selection of players for the team.

The regional team was due to be finalised last weekend for the fourth edition of the competition which is due in Oshakati from April 9 to 12. The regional team was supposed to consist of players from Keetmanshoop, Luderitz and Karasburg as the main towns, but it is believed that the bulk of the players are only from two towns.Keetmanshoop has 11 players, while Luderitz has nine.Only 20 players are required to travel to Oshakati from each region, excluding the officials.An official from Karasburg, Maya Sarles told The Namibian Sport yesterday that there has been some unfairness in the selection of the team.He said a total of seven players who were selected from Karasburg to compete at the trials that were held in Luderitz, did not make the team.”It is just not fair to have players from two towns in this big region.In my opinion the players were hand-picked because of them being known to the officials.They were not selected on merit,” he said.There are also no players from Tses and Berseba in the team.Sarles further said that the selection of the coach who will lead the team to the tournament was also not done in a transparent manner as there was little involvement from all the stakeholders, especially the ones from Karasburg.The chairperson of the Karas Football Region, Joseph Christiaan in contradiction said they have included one player from Karasburg in the final squad, but had to replace him as he will be doing athletics on the same weekend.He surprisingly said the other six players will now be called up to join the team, but could not answer on what will happen to the rest who have made the squad which already looks complete.”We want to accommodate them and we are trying to talk to the Karasburg officials to do so.He further dismissed the allegation that a coach was appointed without the adequate consultations.”I chaired the meeting where all the potential coaches were present and we decided to appoint Bessley Makaula and his assistant is Albertus Jossob,” he said.Meanwhile, The Namibian Sport learned that at least five unknown players from Keetmanshoop are threatening to leave the team if officials make changers to the selected squad.Christaan said he was not aware of it.The Namibian Football Association’s (NFA), Barry Rukoro, confirmed that the Karas team has not been finalised, while the side from Ohangwena has sent more names than required.Caption Selection worries The Karas Regional football team which took part in the 2003 edition of The Namibian Newspaper Cup at Gobabis.The team for this year has not been finalised yet.The regional team was supposed to consist of players from Keetmanshoop, Luderitz and Karasburg as the main towns, but it is believed that the bulk of the players are only from two towns.Keetmanshoop has 11 players, while Luderitz has nine.Only 20 players are required to travel to Oshakati from each region, excluding the officials.An official from Karasburg, Maya Sarles told The Namibian Sport yesterday that there has been some unfairness in the selection of the team.He said a total of seven players who were selected from Karasburg to compete at the trials that were held in Luderitz, did not make the team.”It is just not fair to have players from two towns in this big region.In my opinion the players were hand-picked because of them being known to the officials.They were not selected on merit,” he said.There are also no players from Tses and Berseba in the team.Sarles further said that the selection of the coach who will lead the team to the tournament was also not done in a transparent manner as there was little involvement from all the stakeholders, especially the ones from Karasburg.The chairperson of the Karas Football Region, Joseph Christiaan in contradiction said they have included one player from Karasburg in the final squad, but had to replace him as he will be doing athletics on the same weekend.He surprisingly said the other six players will now be called up to join the team, but could not answer on what will happen to the rest who have made the squad which already looks complete.”We want to accommodate them and we are trying to talk to the Karasburg officials to do so.He further dismissed the allegation that a coach was appointed without the adequate consultations.”I chaired the meeting where all the potential coaches were present and we decided to appoint Bessley Makaula and his assistant is Albertus Jossob,” he said.Meanwhile, The Namibian Sport learned that at least five unknown players from Keetmanshoop are threatening to leave the team if officials make changers to the selected squad.Christaan said he was not aware of it.The Namibian Football Association’s (NFA), Barry Rukoro, confirmed that the Karas team has not been finalised, while the side from Ohangwena has sent more names than required. Caption Selection worries The Karas Regional football team which took part in the 2003 edition of The Namibian Newspaper Cup at Gobabis.The team for this year has not been finalised yet.