Selectors defend picking of players in Newspaper Cup

REGIONAL coordinators in the Hardap and Erongo regions have defended the ‘bias’ selection process of their teams which are expected to play in The Namibian Newspaper Cup in April this year.

The two regions are among the 13 that are expected to send players under the age of 20, to play in the tournament which kicks-off at the Oshakati Independence Stadium on April 9. Hardap regional coordinator Albertus Brink told The Namibian Sport yesterday that he players in that region ‘are selected on merit and all towns are always covered in doing that.’ The Namibian Sportreceived complaints that each year players selected in Hardap region are only picked from Mariental’s teams, but other towns are not covered.Brinkman dismissed the allegations, explaining that the they extend invitation letters to all towns in the region to come to Mariental for trials.”We have been doing this for the previous tournaments and we found that some towns don’t event send any players or they simply do not attend meetings ahead of the selection of the team,” he said.He said this time, players from towns such as Aranos, Gochas, Rehoboth, Gibeon and Maltahohe have been invited to the trials that are scheduled to start during March 20 to 21 at Mariental.Meanwhile, Erongo regional coordinator, Victor Mutumbulwa also brushed aside complaints of unfair selection in the region.Complaints are that only players from Walvis Bay and Swakopmund teams make it to the final squad, which then represents the region at the tournament.He said they cannot select players who are not playing under formal structures.”We cannot just pick everyone from across the region.Players have to be part of clubs that are playing under the auspices of the Namibia Football Association’s (NFA) structures,” he said.He said so far, players at towns such as Omaruru, Omatjete and Karibib have been identified, whose ages are under 20, while they also play in the clubs that are registered.He said Usakos and Arandis do not have teams and cannot be considered for selection.The Erongo region intends to have trials for its players on March 14 at the Mondesa Football Field in Swakopmund, starting at 09h00.The NFA which is tasked with the organisation of the tournament, has reduced the ages of the participating players from under 23 to under 20 this year.This they argue will be beneficial for players under the age of 21 to be able to compete during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.The Namibian Newspaper Cup is currently in its fourth year and over N$300 000 will be spent for hosting the tournament.Hardap regional coordinator Albertus Brink told The Namibian Sport yesterday that he players in that region ‘are selected on merit and all towns are always covered in doing that.’ The Namibian Sportreceived complaints that each year players selected in Hardap region are only picked from Mariental’s teams, but other towns are not covered.Brinkman dismissed the allegations, explaining that the they extend invitation letters to all towns in the region to come to Mariental for trials.”We have been doing this for the previous tournaments and we found that some towns don’t event send any players or they simply do not attend meetings ahead of the selection of the team,” he said.He said this time, players from towns such as Aranos, Gochas, Rehoboth, Gibeon and Maltahohe have been invited to the trials that are scheduled to start during March 20 to 21 at Mariental.Meanwhile, Erongo regional coordinator, Victor Mutumbulwa also brushed aside complaints of unfair selection in the region.Complaints are that only players from Walvis Bay and Swakopmund teams make it to the final squad, which then represents the region at the tournament.He said they cannot select players who are not playing under formal structures.”We cannot just pick everyone from across the region.Players have to be part of clubs that are playing under the auspices of the Namibia Football Association’s (NFA) structures,” he said.He said so far, players at towns such as Omaruru, Omatjete and Karibib have been identified, whose ages are under 20, while they also play in the clubs that are registered.He said Usakos and Arandis do not have teams and cannot be considered for selection.The Erongo region intends to have trials for its players on March 14 at the Mondesa Football Field in Swakopmund, starting at 09h00.The NFA which is tasked with the organisation of the tournament, has reduced the ages of the participating players from under 23 to under 20 this year.This they argue will be beneficial for players under the age of 21 to be able to compete during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.The Namibian Newspaper Cup is currently in its fourth year and over N$300 000 will be spent for hosting the tournament.