Stars coaches, management and supporters at loggerheads

A RIFT has opened up between the Supporters’ Club of African Stars Football Club and its executive management after two senior officials on the technical staff were shown the door at the end of last season.

The Supporters’ Club are demanding the immediate reinstatement of coach Bernard Kaanjuka and former football great Oscar Mengo, who served as the technical adviser for the club. Kaanjuka and Mengo were apparently dismissed by the executive committee after they demanded to be given a mandate to handle the affairs of the club in a “more efficient manner”.The two were initially asked by the executive to help the team survive relegation before the end of last season, which they did.When Kaanjuka and Mengo took over at the end of last year, Stars were lingering in the second-last position of the Namibia Premier League (NPL) log, with only six points to their credit, but worked their way up to the seventh spot at the end of last season, ultimately escaping the relegation axe.The two did not sign contracts, but were given the authority to run the affairs of the team on a “gentleman’s agreement”.An annual general meeting of the Supporters’ Club at the weekend discussed the issue of the two dismissed officials and demanded their immediate reinstatement.Kaanjuka told The Namibian Sport yesterday that the situation at the club was “unhealthy”.”We wrote a letter to the executive at the end of the season, asking them to give us more freedom in running the affairs on a technical level, as we were not entirely happy with what was happening in general on that front.They responded to us in one line, wishing us well in our future endeavours,” he said.He said that meant that they were fired and they did not demand any explanation from the management.”They did not even call us to a meeting to explain our position with the club.But now the supporters are up in arms and want our reinstatement,” he said.Mengo, who was a lethal striker for the club in his heyday, said he hoped the issue “will be resolved for the sake of all to have peace”.Meanwhile, Stars chairman Mbakumua Hengari has dismissed the allegations that the two were fired because they demanded to be given more powers.He told this newspaper that Kaanjuka and Mengo were instructed to submit an-end of-season report on all technical aspects of the team, “which they failed to do to date”.He said the two instead demanded to be given autonomy in running the affairs of the team, while they knew that a report was outstanding on how they fared during the season and what they planned for the team in the future.”They were supposed to inform the management on the weaknesses of the team during the past season, areas they wanted to improve on and how they wanted to structure the technical staff for next season.They did not submit this report.In fact, when they were engaged in this job at the end of last year, it was made clear to them to submit this sort of report,” he said.Hengari added that the technical staff were also asked to see if there were any new players that could be added to the team next season, but this did not happen.He said it was unprofessional of the two to start making demands before they gave a complete report on the areas they had been assigned to.”Now how do you entrust people with more powers who have not honoured their agreement,” he asked.The Africans Stars technical staff also consists of Manase Katjivena as assistant coach, Lesley Kozonguizi as the team manager and Best Karamata as his assistant.The Namibian Sport established that the executive was now lining up Katjivena and Karamata to take over coaching at the club, which is one of the oldest in the country.Hengari confirmed that he spoke to both Mengo and Kaanjuka about the report and was hoping for it to be completed before the season kicks off.He further explained that the Supporters’ Club does not have powers to hire and fire coaches.”The members have entrusted the executive to take decisions on coaches and that is also in line with the constitution of the club,” he explained.Mengo and Kaanjuka were formerly in charge of Liverpool, which has since been relegated from the elite league, a year after claiming their first league championship during the 2002/2003 season.* Meanwhile, Tigers management yesterday confirmed that former Civics coach Ali Akan would be in charge of the team next season.Tigers had administrative problems last month, especially within their top structures, but have since appointed an interim committee which is running the affairs of the club.Kaanjuka and Mengo were apparently dismissed by the executive committee after they demanded to be given a mandate to handle the affairs of the club in a “more efficient manner”.The two were initially asked by the executive to help the team survive relegation before the end of last season, which they did.When Kaanjuka and Mengo took over at the end of last year, Stars were lingering in the second-last position of the Namibia Premier League (NPL) log, with only six points to their credit, but worked their way up to the seventh spot at the end of last season, ultimately escaping the relegation axe.The two did not sign contracts, but were given the authority to run the affairs of the team on a “gentleman’s agreement”.An annual general meeting of the Supporters’ Club at the weekend discussed the issue of the two dismissed officials and demanded their immediate reinstatement.Kaanjuka told The Namibian Sport yesterday that the situation at the club was “unhealthy”.”We wrote a letter to the executive at the end of the season, asking them to give us more freedom in running the affairs on a technical level, as we were not entirely happy with what was happening in general on that front.They responded to us in one line, wishing us well in our future endeavours,” he said.He said that meant that they were fired and they did not demand any explanation from the management.”They did not even call us to a meeting to explain our position with the club.But now the supporters are up in arms and want our reinstatement,” he said.Mengo, who was a lethal striker for the club in his heyday, said he hoped the issue “will be resolved for the sake of all to have peace”.Meanwhile, Stars chairman Mbakumua Hengari has dismissed the allegations that the two were fired because they demanded to be given more powers.He told this newspaper that Kaanjuka and Mengo were instructed to submit an-end of-season report on all technical aspects of the team, “which they failed to do to date”.He said the two instead demanded to be given autonomy in running the affairs of the team, while they knew that a report was outstanding on how they fared during the season and what they planned for the team in the future.”They were supposed to inform the management on the weaknesses of the team during the past season, areas they wanted to improve on and how they wanted to structure the technical staff for next season.They did not submit this report.In fact, when they were engaged in this job at the end of last year, it was made clear to them to submit this sort of report,” he said.Hengari added that the technical staff were also asked to see if there were any new players that could be added to the team next season, but this did not happen.He said it was unprofessional of the two to start making demands before they gave a complete report on the areas they had been assigned to.”Now how do you entrust people with more powers who have not honoured their agreement,” he asked.The Africans Stars technical staff also consists of Manase Katjivena as assistant coach, Lesley Kozonguizi as the team manager and Best Karamata as his assistant.The Namibian Sport established that the executive was now lining up Katjivena and Karamata to take over coaching at the club, which is one of the oldest in the country.Hengari confirmed that he spoke to both Mengo and Kaanjuka about the report and was hoping for it to be completed before the season kicks off.He further explained that the Supporters’ Club does not have powers to hire and fire coaches.”The members have entrusted the executive to take decisions on coaches and that is also in line with the constitution of the club,” he explained.Mengo and Kaanjuka were formerly in charge of Liverpool, which has since been relegated from the elite league, a year after claiming their first league championship during the 2002/2003 season.* Meanwhile, Tigers management yesterday confirmed that former Civics coach Ali Akan would be in charge of the team next season.Tigers had administrative problems last month, especially within their top structures, but have since appointed an interim committee which is running the affairs of the club.