NDF saga threatens NPL
Concerns are mounting that the battle over Okahandja United may result in yet another delay to the start of the NPL.
Namibia Premier League administrator Joshua Tovey
//Hoebeb hopes that the ongoing battle between Okahandja United Football Club and the Namibia Defence Force (NDF) will not affect the start date of the league.
The club, previously known as Military School, were among three teams endorsed on Saturday at an NPL Board of Governors (BOG) for their participation in the league.
However, there has been no clear indication that the saga between the NDF and Okahandja United about who in fact owns the team, and whether the name change is actually valid, is being sorted out.
//Hoebeb confirmed the names of the three promoted teams were sent to them by the Namibia Football Association (NFA).
“At the moment we are not sure of what is happening, but we hope that this issue will not delay the starting date of the league, which is on the weekend of 9 November. We received the names of the teams like that from the NFA,” //Hoebeb said.
Last Wednesday, the NDF sent a letter to NPL chairperson Patrick Kauta.
The letter was signed by NDF chief John Mutua and said they never authorised the renaming and change in ownership of Military School FC and will take further steps in this regard.
“It has recently come to my attention, through the media, that the Military School Football Club, which is owned by the Defence Force Foundation (DFF) in the Ministry of Defence, has been renamed and its ownership has been transferred to the Okahandja United Football Club.
“It is my understanding that this unauthorised act was motivated by the fact that two of our teams, namely the Military School Football Club and Mighty Gunners Football Club, both qualified for a place in the NPL, and this is in contravention of article 18(3) of the Namibia Football Act and article 20 (2) of the Fifa Statute.
“As the Chairperson of DFF, which is responsible for the administration of sport activities in the Ministry of Defence, I would like to inform you and unequivocally state that, the Military School Football Club remains under the control of the Ministry of Defence and the name change and transfer of ownership was done without the knowledge and authorisation from the competent authority.
“We are in the process of exploring possible solutions to the issue of having two teams belonging to one entity participate in the premier league, and we will communicate our decision to your office as soon as possible,” the letter reads.
It was written despite Kashindi Eusebius Kashindi, brigadier-general of the Military School, addressing a letter to NFA secretary-general Barry Rukoro on 12 September, in which he relinquished Military School FC to Okahandja and informed him about the club change in the club's status.
Last month, the NFA announced that Military School will be handed over to the community of Okahandja and would be renamed, as they could not take part in NPL, as there was already another club owned by NDF in the premier league.
Military School won the North West First Division Stream and had expected to be promoted to the NPL.
However, the NFA constitution prohibits a natural or legal person (including holding companies and subsidiaries) from exercising control over more than one club competing in the same league or competition.
//Hoebeb pleaded with the public not to panic.
The administrator said they are waiting feedback from sponsors FNB and MTC before they can release the 2018/19 fixtures.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
//Hoebeb hopes that the ongoing battle between Okahandja United Football Club and the Namibia Defence Force (NDF) will not affect the start date of the league.
The club, previously known as Military School, were among three teams endorsed on Saturday at an NPL Board of Governors (BOG) for their participation in the league.
However, there has been no clear indication that the saga between the NDF and Okahandja United about who in fact owns the team, and whether the name change is actually valid, is being sorted out.
//Hoebeb confirmed the names of the three promoted teams were sent to them by the Namibia Football Association (NFA).
“At the moment we are not sure of what is happening, but we hope that this issue will not delay the starting date of the league, which is on the weekend of 9 November. We received the names of the teams like that from the NFA,” //Hoebeb said.
Last Wednesday, the NDF sent a letter to NPL chairperson Patrick Kauta.
The letter was signed by NDF chief John Mutua and said they never authorised the renaming and change in ownership of Military School FC and will take further steps in this regard.
“It has recently come to my attention, through the media, that the Military School Football Club, which is owned by the Defence Force Foundation (DFF) in the Ministry of Defence, has been renamed and its ownership has been transferred to the Okahandja United Football Club.
“It is my understanding that this unauthorised act was motivated by the fact that two of our teams, namely the Military School Football Club and Mighty Gunners Football Club, both qualified for a place in the NPL, and this is in contravention of article 18(3) of the Namibia Football Act and article 20 (2) of the Fifa Statute.
“As the Chairperson of DFF, which is responsible for the administration of sport activities in the Ministry of Defence, I would like to inform you and unequivocally state that, the Military School Football Club remains under the control of the Ministry of Defence and the name change and transfer of ownership was done without the knowledge and authorisation from the competent authority.
“We are in the process of exploring possible solutions to the issue of having two teams belonging to one entity participate in the premier league, and we will communicate our decision to your office as soon as possible,” the letter reads.
It was written despite Kashindi Eusebius Kashindi, brigadier-general of the Military School, addressing a letter to NFA secretary-general Barry Rukoro on 12 September, in which he relinquished Military School FC to Okahandja and informed him about the club change in the club's status.
Last month, the NFA announced that Military School will be handed over to the community of Okahandja and would be renamed, as they could not take part in NPL, as there was already another club owned by NDF in the premier league.
Military School won the North West First Division Stream and had expected to be promoted to the NPL.
However, the NFA constitution prohibits a natural or legal person (including holding companies and subsidiaries) from exercising control over more than one club competing in the same league or competition.
//Hoebeb pleaded with the public not to panic.
The administrator said they are waiting feedback from sponsors FNB and MTC before they can release the 2018/19 fixtures.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
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