NFA battle on knife edge
Larger-than-life football supremo Barry Rukoro and his arch-nemesis, NFA president Frans Mbidi, will face off in a meeting this weekend in Omuthiya that could determine their future at the helm of the association.
The fate of both Mbidi and Rukoro lies in the hands of the NFA executive committee.
The NFA executive meeting will decide whether to keep Rukoro in his position as secretary-general - a post he has hogged for 11 years.
Rukoro was informed by Mbidi about three months ago that his contract at the organisation will not be extended.
However, the NFA executive stepped in and bamboozled the NFA president’s efforts to oust Rukoro, proving once what power the long-serving SG wields.
The NFA emergency committee acted using article (35) (i) of the NFA constitution, which says the executive committee “shall appoint or dismiss the general secretary”.
At another meeting at which FIFA development officer David Fani was an observer, it was also decided that the NFA should ask Cosafa for more information on Rukoro's suspension, as well as seek a legal opinion on the suspension and his contract with the NFA.
Rukoro was suspended on charges of gross misconduct in relation to his reported attack on Cosafa president Philip Chiyangwa on 16 February in South Africa.
It was also decided that a meeting will be held in Omuthiya this Saturday to determine Rukoro’s future.
Many analysts believe that Rukoro’s influence on the executive committee and the NFA employees is the card that he has played for so long.
Many of the officials on the committee were brought in by Rukoro and ousting him is therefore proving to be difficult.
Influence
Rukoro has over 27 years of experience in football administration.
Over the many years he has empowered himself sufficiently in terms of the politics and administration of football.
He has rubbed shoulders with the top dogs of world football and he has the football qualifications that go with cementing his position.
He is one of only a few people who understand the politics of football and he puts this to good use.
Namibia’s amateur football set-up and its football officials mostly lack the knowledge that has elevated Rukoro to be among the knowledgeable.
The people who lead football structures such as the regional second divisions and the national first division streams have the passion for football, but are not sufficiently savvy to take decisions that will take football far.
At best, they serve their own interests and they depend on advice from the NFA head office.
“Under normal circumstances, the regional chairpersons are supposed to be Barry’s bosses, but it is the other way around. He tells them what must happen and when, because they refuse to read and empower themselves with the right type of information and knowledge. They think they are there because of him,” a source who chose to remain anonymous said.
According to the source, this creates a dependency on Rukoro and it has made him seem all-powerful over time.
The bad
Rukoro’s ego has often come under the spotlight, as many regard him as a selfish and dodgy individual.
The NFA SG has also been blamed for using his power to influence the decisions to appoint NFA presidents.
The fact that he has served under Petrus Damaseb, John Muinjo, and now Mbidi, speaks volumes to his influence and longevity.
Rukoro’s temper has also been something that has often landed him into physical brawls with officials.
In 2015, the SG refused to shake the hand of Uefa president Michel Platini, at a Fifa meeting in Zurich.
Rukoro said that he refused to shake Platini’s hand because he called Africans poor.
In 2011, Rukoro was again the centre of attention, after he allegedly assaulted a freelance journalist, Andrew Novotny, after a verbal altercation broke out at a media briefing.
Rukoro, however, rebuffed the allegation, stating that he had not beaten Novotny.
In the latest incident, Rukoro allegedly manhandled Chiyangwa on 16 February in South Africa.
The good
Some analysts and those that have worked closely with Rukoro have spoken highly of the Teflon don of Namibian football.
Rukoro is said to have been responsible for many sponsorship deals the NFA has managed to secure.
He is believed to be a caring and humble person, as long as he is not provoked.
With him at the helm of the NFA, Namibia has managed to successfully host the CAF African Women Championship in 2014.
Rukoro and former NFA president Muinjo were influential in the negotiations that resulted in Namibia being given the green light to host the tournament.
The national team has also qualified for several tournaments on the African continent and even won the Cosafa championship in 2015.
“I do not have anything against Barry, but I personally told him that his time is up.
“There is no doubt that we have to respect him for what he has done and not push him out in a way to humiliate him.
“It is important that we give him a proper sending off,” Tigers coach Woody Jacobs said.
Jacobs added that the entire football fraternity needs an overhaul because most of the administrators have overstayed their welcome.
Young African boss Marley Ngarizemo said: “To be honest, when Rukoro took over the NFA administration, it was in a minus, but Barry made sure that Football House became an institution.
“Well perhaps his time has come, but I do believe he must leave in a dignified manner.
“There is a voice note circulating in Damara/Nama from certain senior sport officials who are saying they will use Mbidi to remove Barry and after that they will remove Mbidi, so that Damaras can take over. This is shocking.”
Mbidi’s fears
Meanwhile, Mbidi says that people have been ganging up against him before the meeting takes place on Saturday.
“There are people holding backdoor meetings in a plot to oust me, because regional chairpersons have been coming to Windhoek to meet certain individuals.
“The other problem is that they are busy fabricating lies in order for me to look bad.”
This is after the president was accused of the mismanagement of CAF funds.
However, Mbidi showed Namibian Sun a letter which illustrates that the money from CAF is part of his allowances as a president.
“I was planning to put this money back in the community, but now these people have ruined that.”
JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA
The fate of both Mbidi and Rukoro lies in the hands of the NFA executive committee.
The NFA executive meeting will decide whether to keep Rukoro in his position as secretary-general - a post he has hogged for 11 years.
Rukoro was informed by Mbidi about three months ago that his contract at the organisation will not be extended.
However, the NFA executive stepped in and bamboozled the NFA president’s efforts to oust Rukoro, proving once what power the long-serving SG wields.
The NFA emergency committee acted using article (35) (i) of the NFA constitution, which says the executive committee “shall appoint or dismiss the general secretary”.
At another meeting at which FIFA development officer David Fani was an observer, it was also decided that the NFA should ask Cosafa for more information on Rukoro's suspension, as well as seek a legal opinion on the suspension and his contract with the NFA.
Rukoro was suspended on charges of gross misconduct in relation to his reported attack on Cosafa president Philip Chiyangwa on 16 February in South Africa.
It was also decided that a meeting will be held in Omuthiya this Saturday to determine Rukoro’s future.
Many analysts believe that Rukoro’s influence on the executive committee and the NFA employees is the card that he has played for so long.
Many of the officials on the committee were brought in by Rukoro and ousting him is therefore proving to be difficult.
Influence
Rukoro has over 27 years of experience in football administration.
Over the many years he has empowered himself sufficiently in terms of the politics and administration of football.
He has rubbed shoulders with the top dogs of world football and he has the football qualifications that go with cementing his position.
He is one of only a few people who understand the politics of football and he puts this to good use.
Namibia’s amateur football set-up and its football officials mostly lack the knowledge that has elevated Rukoro to be among the knowledgeable.
The people who lead football structures such as the regional second divisions and the national first division streams have the passion for football, but are not sufficiently savvy to take decisions that will take football far.
At best, they serve their own interests and they depend on advice from the NFA head office.
“Under normal circumstances, the regional chairpersons are supposed to be Barry’s bosses, but it is the other way around. He tells them what must happen and when, because they refuse to read and empower themselves with the right type of information and knowledge. They think they are there because of him,” a source who chose to remain anonymous said.
According to the source, this creates a dependency on Rukoro and it has made him seem all-powerful over time.
The bad
Rukoro’s ego has often come under the spotlight, as many regard him as a selfish and dodgy individual.
The NFA SG has also been blamed for using his power to influence the decisions to appoint NFA presidents.
The fact that he has served under Petrus Damaseb, John Muinjo, and now Mbidi, speaks volumes to his influence and longevity.
Rukoro’s temper has also been something that has often landed him into physical brawls with officials.
In 2015, the SG refused to shake the hand of Uefa president Michel Platini, at a Fifa meeting in Zurich.
Rukoro said that he refused to shake Platini’s hand because he called Africans poor.
In 2011, Rukoro was again the centre of attention, after he allegedly assaulted a freelance journalist, Andrew Novotny, after a verbal altercation broke out at a media briefing.
Rukoro, however, rebuffed the allegation, stating that he had not beaten Novotny.
In the latest incident, Rukoro allegedly manhandled Chiyangwa on 16 February in South Africa.
The good
Some analysts and those that have worked closely with Rukoro have spoken highly of the Teflon don of Namibian football.
Rukoro is said to have been responsible for many sponsorship deals the NFA has managed to secure.
He is believed to be a caring and humble person, as long as he is not provoked.
With him at the helm of the NFA, Namibia has managed to successfully host the CAF African Women Championship in 2014.
Rukoro and former NFA president Muinjo were influential in the negotiations that resulted in Namibia being given the green light to host the tournament.
The national team has also qualified for several tournaments on the African continent and even won the Cosafa championship in 2015.
“I do not have anything against Barry, but I personally told him that his time is up.
“There is no doubt that we have to respect him for what he has done and not push him out in a way to humiliate him.
“It is important that we give him a proper sending off,” Tigers coach Woody Jacobs said.
Jacobs added that the entire football fraternity needs an overhaul because most of the administrators have overstayed their welcome.
Young African boss Marley Ngarizemo said: “To be honest, when Rukoro took over the NFA administration, it was in a minus, but Barry made sure that Football House became an institution.
“Well perhaps his time has come, but I do believe he must leave in a dignified manner.
“There is a voice note circulating in Damara/Nama from certain senior sport officials who are saying they will use Mbidi to remove Barry and after that they will remove Mbidi, so that Damaras can take over. This is shocking.”
Mbidi’s fears
Meanwhile, Mbidi says that people have been ganging up against him before the meeting takes place on Saturday.
“There are people holding backdoor meetings in a plot to oust me, because regional chairpersons have been coming to Windhoek to meet certain individuals.
“The other problem is that they are busy fabricating lies in order for me to look bad.”
This is after the president was accused of the mismanagement of CAF funds.
However, Mbidi showed Namibian Sun a letter which illustrates that the money from CAF is part of his allowances as a president.
“I was planning to put this money back in the community, but now these people have ruined that.”
JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA
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