Slow progress on dispute

THE long-dragging arbitration case between Africa Stars, Black Africa and the Namibia Premier League (NPL) might force the league into a further delay, as little progress has been made so far.

The issue at stake is a first-round match between Black Africa and African Stars which was abandoned late last year after BA refused to play under assigned referee Matthew Katjimune. It was expected that the case would be finalised last week, after an Arbitration Board was appointed by the Namibia Football Association (NFA) about two months ago.Yesterday, NPL chairman Peter van Wyk said the arbitrators asked the three parties several questions to which they have still not responded.Van Wyk said Black Africa does not have a problem to play the first-round match.He said Stars were not eager to play the match, but added that the club might change their minds at an executive meeting last night.The MTC Namibia Premier League is expected to end this weekend, but Stars and Black Africa are the only teams with an outstanding match each.It is not known when the arbitrators will meet to make a final decision, according to Van Wyk.He said they hope to have the matter finalised this week, before the crowning of the new league champions at the weekend.The Arbitration Board was set up by the NFA and was expected to study the cases of the three disputing parties before making a decision.This decision seemed not to be in the offing at this stage.One of the arbitrators, lawyer Norman Tjombe, earlier told The Namibian Sport that they had received documentation from the three disputing parties.The other two members of the Arbitration Board are lawyer Deon Obbes and Acting Judge Hosea Angula.Stars expressed displeasure at BA’s refusal to play the match, and the fact that the NPL ruled in BA’s favour.Stars’ protest was never looked into and the NPL pushed for the match to be re-scheduled, a move that prompted Stars to seek intervention from the NFA to review and set aside the matter according to the NFA’s rules.Stars said they had played by the rules by going through the right channels with their protest, but still the NPL insisted that it was invalid.The NFA, after a meeting with the NPL, then took a decision that the matter be scrutinised by an arbitration board and that its decision would be final since BA, Stars and the NPL could not resolve it through the appropriate channels.It was expected that the case would be finalised last week, after an Arbitration Board was appointed by the Namibia Football Association (NFA) about two months ago.Yesterday, NPL chairman Peter van Wyk said the arbitrators asked the three parties several questions to which they have still not responded.Van Wyk said Black Africa does not have a problem to play the first-round match.He said Stars were not eager to play the match, but added that the club might change their minds at an executive meeting last night.The MTC Namibia Premier League is expected to end this weekend, but Stars and Black Africa are the only teams with an outstanding match each.It is not known when the arbitrators will meet to make a final decision, according to Van Wyk.He said they hope to have the matter finalised this week, before the crowning of the new league champions at the weekend.The Arbitration Board was set up by the NFA and was expected to study the cases of the three disputing parties before making a decision.This decision seemed not to be in the offing at this stage.One of the arbitrators, lawyer Norman Tjombe, earlier told The Namibian Sport that they had received documentation from the three disputing parties.The other two members of the Arbitration Board are lawyer Deon Obbes and Acting Judge Hosea Angula.Stars expressed displeasure at BA’s refusal to play the match, and the fact that the NPL ruled in BA’s favour.Stars’ protest was never looked into and the NPL pushed for the match to be re-scheduled, a move that prompted Stars to seek intervention from the NFA to review and set aside the matter according to the NFA’s rules.Stars said they had played by the rules by going through the right channels with their protest, but still the NPL insisted that it was invalid.The NFA, after a meeting with the NPL, then took a decision that the matter be scrutinised by an arbitration board and that its decision would be final since BA, Stars and the NPL could not resolve it through the appropriate channels.