Let the presidency battle begin
With the NFA congress fast approaching, names likely to contest for the presidency have been disclosed.
Black Africa's acting chairman Cassius Moeti, former chairman Ranga Haikali and NPL chairman Patrick Kauta have been nominated to run for the Namibia Football Association (NFA) presidential seat.
It was announced by the Fifa normalisation committee that 10 candidates have been nominated, setting a fierce presidential battle ahead of the historic congress.
This comes two days after this newspaper revealed that former NFA executive member Mpasi Haingura, former NPL chairperson Johnny Doeseb, former NFA president Frans Mbidi and Mabos Vries had been nominated.
Former NFA vice-president Naftal Ngalangi, chairman of the Karas Region Isak Fredericks and Kenneth Goaseb are also on the nomination list.
Moeti confirmed his nomination but declined to give further details on the matter.
“Yes, I heard something like that and I am honoured to be nominated, but I will not comment on that at the moment,” he said.
Haikali shared the sentiment.
“I received the news that I was nominated and I am grateful to those who nominated me.
“I would rather give my comments later after all verifications have been done,” he said.
Nominated candidates will be subjected to ITC and criminal record checks.
Mbidi has been tipped as the favourite for the hot seat because of his strong influence.
The former president says he is ready to fight corruption.
“My biggest plan is to fight corruption in football circles when re-elected as president,” Mbidi noted.
People in football circles however feel that Haikali, Kauta and Doeseb will give Mbidi tough competition, given their own support.
Possible complications
Sources felt that the constitution could prevent some of the candidates who have served on the NFA executive for eight or more years to serve as president.
This may automatically rule out Mbidi and Ngalangi from the running.
Mbidi could however use Article 33 (3) of the NFA constitution to his advantage, which gives him mandate to be re-elected.
Article 33(3) of the NFA constitution states that the president shall be elected by the congress for a period of four years. His mandate shall commence after the end of congress which has elected him. A president may be re-elected for one consecutive term.
In 2018, Mbidi vowed to step down if the constitution prevented him from running for a second term.
It has, however, been argued that Mbidi had already served one term as an NFA executive member and the other term as president, and that his term of office has thus come to an end.
Mbidi was elected as NFA president unopposed in 2014, replacing John Muinjo in the hot seat.
A football analyst who spoke on the condition of anonymity believes Mbidi could also utilise the Namibia Sport Commission Act, which allows people elected to be in office for 10 years.
The analyst added, however, that Mbidi's term of office, as per the NFA constitution, has lapsed.
“It is a very tricky situation at the moment and we all hope that the NFA normalisation committee can shed light on this process.
“I can however tell you that as from 2008, Mbidi acted as an NFA executive and was officially appointed in 2010.
“In 2014, he served as the president till 2018, making his total stay in NFA executive structures eight years.”
The source further predicted that Mbidi will only be able to serve for two years if re-elected, given that he would have served 10 years as per the sport commission Act in the NFA structures by 2022.
“I believe the verifications and checks will actually give us a better idea of who will be the last man standing.
“Looking at the list, many people will not qualify to become the president of the association,” the source said.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
It was announced by the Fifa normalisation committee that 10 candidates have been nominated, setting a fierce presidential battle ahead of the historic congress.
This comes two days after this newspaper revealed that former NFA executive member Mpasi Haingura, former NPL chairperson Johnny Doeseb, former NFA president Frans Mbidi and Mabos Vries had been nominated.
Former NFA vice-president Naftal Ngalangi, chairman of the Karas Region Isak Fredericks and Kenneth Goaseb are also on the nomination list.
Moeti confirmed his nomination but declined to give further details on the matter.
“Yes, I heard something like that and I am honoured to be nominated, but I will not comment on that at the moment,” he said.
Haikali shared the sentiment.
“I received the news that I was nominated and I am grateful to those who nominated me.
“I would rather give my comments later after all verifications have been done,” he said.
Nominated candidates will be subjected to ITC and criminal record checks.
Mbidi has been tipped as the favourite for the hot seat because of his strong influence.
The former president says he is ready to fight corruption.
“My biggest plan is to fight corruption in football circles when re-elected as president,” Mbidi noted.
People in football circles however feel that Haikali, Kauta and Doeseb will give Mbidi tough competition, given their own support.
Possible complications
Sources felt that the constitution could prevent some of the candidates who have served on the NFA executive for eight or more years to serve as president.
This may automatically rule out Mbidi and Ngalangi from the running.
Mbidi could however use Article 33 (3) of the NFA constitution to his advantage, which gives him mandate to be re-elected.
Article 33(3) of the NFA constitution states that the president shall be elected by the congress for a period of four years. His mandate shall commence after the end of congress which has elected him. A president may be re-elected for one consecutive term.
In 2018, Mbidi vowed to step down if the constitution prevented him from running for a second term.
It has, however, been argued that Mbidi had already served one term as an NFA executive member and the other term as president, and that his term of office has thus come to an end.
Mbidi was elected as NFA president unopposed in 2014, replacing John Muinjo in the hot seat.
A football analyst who spoke on the condition of anonymity believes Mbidi could also utilise the Namibia Sport Commission Act, which allows people elected to be in office for 10 years.
The analyst added, however, that Mbidi's term of office, as per the NFA constitution, has lapsed.
“It is a very tricky situation at the moment and we all hope that the NFA normalisation committee can shed light on this process.
“I can however tell you that as from 2008, Mbidi acted as an NFA executive and was officially appointed in 2010.
“In 2014, he served as the president till 2018, making his total stay in NFA executive structures eight years.”
The source further predicted that Mbidi will only be able to serve for two years if re-elected, given that he would have served 10 years as per the sport commission Act in the NFA structures by 2022.
“I believe the verifications and checks will actually give us a better idea of who will be the last man standing.
“Looking at the list, many people will not qualify to become the president of the association,” the source said.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
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