Appeals committee coming

The Fifa normalisation committee (NC) is looking to appoint three individuals who will be tasked to pronounce themselves on pending matters involving Young African and Young Chiefs.

NC chairperson Hilda Basson-Namundjebo told Namibian Sun on Thursday they are looking for three individuals, two with legal expertise and one with an extensive sports administration background, to be part of an appeals committee.

The committee will deal with the thorny issue of Young African and Young Chiefs, with regard to their quests to be reinstated in the MTC Namibia Premier League (NPL).

African was expelled during the 2018/19 season for registering and fielding Zimbabwean national Tapiwa Simon Musekwa with a forged passport in 28 of their 30 league matches during the prior season.

Chiefs had reported the matter to NPL during the time when they were relegated following the 2017/18 season. They felt they needed to be reinstated.

So now in order to deal with this issues, the NC is urging and inviting members of the public to form part of the appeals committee to be constituted in terms of article 58(5) of the Namibia Football Association (NFA) constitution.

“The appointment and decision of committee shall be ratified at the NFA congress,” Basson-Namundjebo explained.

She said applicants should not have been found guilty of having breached the Fifa, Confederation of African Football (CAF) or NFA statutes or regulations in the past.

They should also disclose any activity that may give rise to a conflict of interest, and as such, aspiring applicants should not form part of any Fifa, CAF or NFA structures either as players or officials, as defined by NFA statutes.

“He or she shall also do a written undertaking to observe the statutes, regulations and decisions of Fifa, CAF and the NFA, and interested parties should send their CVs.”

Included should be a written declaration to observe the statutes, regulations and decisions of Fifa, CAF and NFA.

They should also outline any recent experience on assignments of a similar nature during the past five years or any sporting background, which will be an added advantage, Basson-Namundjebo said.

Any requests for clarification can be forwarded in writing via email to [email protected] and the deadline is 17 July.



Fifa endorsement

Fifa has also endorsed the position of the NC stating that there will be no promotions or relegations in the three local leagues.

“Citing article 9 of the Fifa statutes, which deals with the principle of promotion and relegation, it is believed that no 'sporting merit' exists which determines a club's participation in a league and states categorically that this decision is final,” Basson-Namundjebo said. Young African owner Maleagi Ngarizemo said the decision taken by the NC is good for football.

“My appeal against my club's unlawful relegation must be heard and then they should pronounce themselves on the way forward,” he said.

Local football pundit Isack Hamata shared his two cents on the matter, saying he can't comment on whether Fifa's endorsement is right or wrong.

“If the endorsement is in line with international or national football provisions, then they are within their rights.

“If not, then we can expect a long, drawn-out battle between the NPL, NFA and Fifa.

“If the NPL decides to challenge this endorsement then we can see ourselves not enjoying NPL football for an extended period of time. In addition, this might have repercussions for our membership in CAF and Fifa,” he added.

LIMBA MUPETAMI