End of road for NFA Exco?

Tainted with corruption allegations, mismanagement and infighting, the current NFA Exco appears to have accepted failure as most regions have begun plans to call for an extraordinary congress in an attempt to unseat the current NFA executive and its president, Ranga Haikali.
Herma Prinsloo
JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

WINDHOEK

Numerous football regions have started contemplating an NFA extraordinary congress after Hardap football region took the lead.

In a letter to all football stakeholders on Sunday, the Hardap football region called for the dissolution of the current NFA exco and demanded an extraordinary congress.

“The executive committee and all nine member clubs of the Hardap Region Football Association at its Exco meeting with its member clubs grants its chairperson permission to request for an extraordinary congress from the NFA executive committee in terms of Article 29 of the NFA statutes,” the letter reads.

The feeling from most of the regions is that the divided NFA Exco has failed, as it is unable to reach consensus.

Many of the region bosses are unable to speak on the record but have vowed to keep organising to unseat the current Exco.

“I shared the Hardap region letter on our group and the support I got says it all, that they are in agreement with that decision.

“I therefore believe that our region will follow suit in drafting such a letter in support of the Hardap region,” a leader of one football region said on condition of anonymity.

Most of the regions are also calling for the end of groupings ahead of the next congress to avoid the same drama.

“I do not have any problem with calling for an extraordinary congress for as long as it benefits football.

“The truth is that my region is definitely going to support a call for a congress as long as it’s for the best of the game,” the chairman of another region said.

The current Exco is divided into Isack Fredericks (//Karas), Netty Cloete (//Karas), Peter Ndjulu (Khomas), Iggy Hainghumbi (Ohangwena), Shali Amakali (Oshikoto) and Robert Shimooshili (Namibia Premier Football League representative with no voting rights).

Earnest Joy (Kavango West), Kenneth Goaseb (Southern Stream First Division chairman), Tino Haingura (Kavango East) Ferdinand Hausiku (Kavango West) and Ranga Haikali are in the other camp.

NFA president Ranga Haikali said he had no problem with an extraordinary congress, which could signal the end of his reign.

“All I can say is that it is within their full right to request for a congress,” Haikali said.

Vice-president Izak Fredericks, who is part of the faction that suspended Haikali, said he was not worried about going down.

“It is within the rights of the regions and all stakeholders to call for a congress.

“I do not mind what happens next because I honestly think the current Exco has failed and there is no other way than to dissolve the current executive.

“It does not bother me if I go down now because there is no point if there is nothing happening in football,” Fredericks said.

Cosmos safe for now

NFA secretary-general Franco Cosmos is so far the only person who is safe.

Cosmos has a five-year contract and his position will remain even if the Exco is dissolved.

“Well, I think Franco is safe for now and the only time he can come under threat is when whoever takes over the Exco looks into the allegations by the current president and finds any truth in the allegations,” said a former NFA president who did not want to be named.

Important decisions delayed

The division within the Exco has signalled a further delay in the appointment of a Brave Warriors coach on permanent basis.

Namibian Sun understands that matters like discussing possible ties with the Namibia Premier League are also delayed by the fact that the Exco has been unable to meet.

The fact that the Namibia Football Association (NFA) Executive is unable to form a quorum has delayed the appointment of a Brave Warriors coach.

NFA secretary-general Franco Cosmos confirmed that the decision to appoint a coach must be made by the Exco.

“I will not be able to talk much about anything at the moment because all those decisions lie with the Exco.

“It is also not in my place to talk about any possible links with NPL or lifting their suspension because that was done by the congress and only the congress can do anything about it,” Cosmos said.

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

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