Calls for professional football resurface

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa







WINDHOEK

Football analysts and personalities in the sport fraternity are urging the Namibia Football Association (NFA) and Namibia Premier League (NPL) to unite and avoid forming two leagues at the expense of one professional league.

Others are confident that the appeal committee’s decision will not influence proceedings as the Namibia Premier Football League (NPFL) has already commenced its transitional period.

This comes after the appeal committee - an independent body set up by the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) – instructed the sport commission to register the expelled NPL as a professional body within 14 days.

Former footballer and Walvis Bay constituency councillor Knowledge Ipinge welcomed the decision, adding it is the best move for Namibian football.

“My opinion in this matter is simple: This is a good decision which is in line with Windhoek declaration of professionalising sport.

“The NFA should allow the NPL to be an independent body, but remain an affiliate to the football body.

“If you have been following sport over the years, you will realise this is what Johnny Doeseb wanted to do and now Kauta has achieved it.

“It is time the people in football circles meet once and for all to have a lasting solution,” Ipinge said.

Best interest

Ipinge added that all decisions moving forward should be driven by the best interest of the players.

“NPL and NFA should show leadership by practising unity of purpose.”

Another football analyst fears that two football leagues will split sponsorship.

He, therefore, called on the parties to seek a lasting solution and unite the game in the country.

“I will not be taking any sides in this matter but I urge the leaders to come together and avoid having two football leagues running in the country.

“They can do this by either agreeing that Kauta will not continue with this league and he is brought back in or that the NFPL is dismantled in order for the NPL to continue.

“We would have not been sitting here had these leaders been able to sit at one table before,” the senior football administrator - who spoke on condition of anonymity - said.

Great victory

Salomo Hei of African Stars said he was pleased with the appeal committee’s decision after his club dragged its feet to join the NPFL.

“This is a great victory to us and now I believe that the dream of professionalising Namibian football and playing in a professional league is closer,” he briefly said.

Another pundit who also spoke anonymously said the NPL’s victory means nothing.

“This is nothing because football has already started and Kauta does not even have any clubs except the three.

“The NPFL is the only league that is recognised by NFA and Fifa and that’s how things must remain,” he said.

It was, however, unclear whether the NSC would obey the appeal committee’s instruction.

Still early

NSC chief administrator Freddy Mwiya said they received the instruction but were yet to pronounce themselves by Friday.

“We heard the decision but it is still early to say what will happen because the board has to sit and pave the way forward,” he said.

As things stand, only African Stars, Life Fighters and Okahandja United are part of the current existing NPL structures.

All 13 clubs that were part of the league before it was expelled by the NFA congress in 2020 have joined the newly formed NPFL.