Cloete scoops top award

WINDHOEKSTAFF REPORTER

African Stars playmaker Riaan Cloete was on Friday named as the Namibia Premier League Player of the Season at a glittering ceremony held at a local hotel.
Cloete, who helped African Stars win the Bidvest Namibia Cup, walked away with N$30 000 and a trophy for his exploits.
The Players' Player of the Season accolade went to Willy Stephanus of Black Africa, while Stars' coach Ali Akan was named as the Coach of the Season after guiding the Samba Boys to the Bidvest Namibia Cup. Under Akan, Stars also won the League Cup and finished the season as runners-up to eventual champions Black Africa. Both Stephanus and Akan received cash prizes of N$20 000.
Harold Ochurub of Mighty Gunners, who finished the season as top goal scorer with 13 goals, received the Golden Boot award as well as a cash prize of N$30 000.
Reinhold Shikongo walked away with the Referee of the Season award, while Mathew Kanyanga was named the Assistant Referee of the Season.
The Chairman's Award went to local football commentator Isack Hamata and Civics veteran defender Donelly Nel.
The Rookie of the Season award was given to Deon Hotto of Stars.
Black Africa as the league champions for 2012/2013 season also received their trophy and winning cash prize of a cool N$1 million.

War of words

At the event, MTC executive Tim Ekandjo blasted Black Africa for not adhering to the rules and regulations of the MTC Namibia Premiership. "I wish to remind and caution the leadership of Black Africa that you are competing under the MTC Namibia Premiership and not that of your own or your club sponsor, "said Ekandjo.
"You therefore need to respect and uphold the rules and regulations under which the main sponsor MTC and the NPL have agreed on certain critical aspects like branding and giving post-match interviews, amongst many other things."
Black Africa's chairman, Ranga Haikali, did not take kindly to Ekandjo's comments, calling them "unprofessional, insensitive, intimidating and threatening and misplaced".
"Black Africa as a reputable football club will not allow that the NPL sponsor damages and hurts the equity of the BA brand, " Haikali retorted in a media release on Saturday.
"Clearly, BA are the undisputed champions for Namibia Premier League and it must be an extremely bitter pill for its chief corporate relations officer to get so low in insulting BA," he said.
"Ekandjo exposed his immaturity in managing public and sponsorship relations, however, the NPL chairman excelled on this score."