MTC remains mum

MTC's Tim Ekandjo chose to remain silent on new developments regarding the NPL.
Limba Mupetami
LIMBA MUPETAMI

WINDHOEK



MTC executive Tim Ekandjo says the entity does not wish to comment on alleged developments regarding the Namibia Premier League (NPL) until they are formally presented by the institution. This after NPL yesterday announced that they were registering a league independent from that of the Namibia Football Association (NFA).



Different route

The NPL has also registered as a non-profit organisation in documents seen by the Namibian Sun: all of these after being expelled by the mother body on 27 July and thus almost getting a boot from their long-term sponsor, MTC, which has so far given them time to get their house in order.

Fixing their house is what NPL seems to be doing, as they said the benefits of professionalising the league are to create employment for more than 650 people and the formation of a legally and ethically managed company. Also, the league envisages concluding a collective bargaining agreement with the players' representatives to ensure compliance with labour laws and Fifa statutes, and enhance living standards.

Furthermore, the league has also applied to be registered as a national sports body with the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC). This was confirmed by NSC chief administrator Freddy Mwiya.

Mwiya said the NPL leadership visited their offices last week Thursday and Friday.

“We received their application; however, we haven't taken any action yet. I further invited the president of NFA, Ranga Haikali, as well as the acting secretary-general, Franco Cosmos, to fact find on how the Fifa operates.

“We had peaceful, separate closed-door meetings with both parties as we are a public office and are here to receive everyone without discrimination.

“However, up until now they are not registered yet,” Mwiya explained. He further said that the outcome cannot be shared as it involves consultations.



How the league will operate

The legal structures of the league will consist of two tiers comprising a maximum of 12 teams each, respectively known as Premier Division and National First Division, managed by a congress of 25 members. The 25 members are player representatives, the statement further said.

The NSC will serve as an observer at the congress. The members all have equal vote and form the board of governors to meet at least quarterly.

The NPL fiduciary will fall under an executive committee of seven persons: four elected by the Premier Division, two by the First Division and one by the players. The daily operations will be carried out by staff.

Namibian Sun engaged the chairperson of the expelled league, Patrick Kauta, asking what the advantage is of registering the league as such and what his thought process was on playing in any matches sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football – the administrative and controlling body for African association football.

Kauta had not responded to these questions by the time of going to print.

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Namibian Sun 2024-04-20

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