Ngarizemo fears worst for NPL

Limba MupetamiWINDHOEKJust days after Young African were reinstated into the Namibia Premier League (NPL), the club's owner and head coach Maleagi 'Mali' Ngarizemo yesterday shared suspicions that the Namibia Football Association (NFA) will expel the league over the weekend, adding that he would not have a problem with that outcome.The NPL was suspended by the Fifa Normalisation Committee (NC), chaired by Hilda Basson-Namundjebo, in February last year amid allegations of persistent and continued disregard and violation of committee directives. The suspension came after the NPL refused to retain relegated Orlando Pirates and Civics in the league after the NC had requested them to do so in terms of “sporting merit”. 'We have no power'The NPL, however, maintains it did not have the power to retain the clubs after none of its 13 members submitted a proposal to amend its constitution, which would allow the clubs back after their relegation at the end of the 2017/18 season. After two failed attempts in the High Court and Supreme Court to have its suspension overturned, the NPL took its grievances to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, and is waiting for its appeal to be heard.And according to Ngarizemo, the NFA's 16th extraordinary congress, scheduled for this Saturday, is ominous for the NPL.He said he believes the football association won't waste the opportunity to expel the premier league, given that it wants the MTC NFA Cup to kick off. The NFA will be receiving N$13.5 million over the next three years from telecommunications giant MTC to organise what is usually a knockout tournament.NPL owes NFANgarizemo also said the NPL being booted out of the NFA would be welcome, as the league owes the mother body close to N$700 000.“How will they pay?” he asked, adding that MTC will make funds available for the competition by October, and if not used, “it's definitely going back to their coffers, and no one wants that”.Ngarizemo added with his club's reinstatement into the NPL, there are now 16 clubs on the league's books, and he believes that the football association will communicate with them to confirm their availability and willingness to participate in the upcoming cup tourney. “But of course, we will now wait and see what happens on Saturday,” he added. Suspension liftedThe Gobabis outfit was reinstated into the NPL on Tuesday, but before they can step onto the pitch, Ngarizemo has to fork out N$100 000. This is for fielding an unregistered Zimbabwean national with a forged passport, who played in 28 of their 30 league matches during the 2017/18 season.The club eventually lost all its points for the matches in which the player featured and were demoted to the first division on 21 January 2019 after the NPL disciplinary committee found them guilty.“It costs money to run a club and we have obviously suffered losses because of this. But our aim was to get the club reinstated and we are happy with the decision. We will pay the fine,” Ngarizemo said. 'We might sue'Ngarizemo added they would consult their lawyers on whether to sue the NPL for damages.The owner said there are many players who want to ply their trade for the club, and said he had no concerns on that front.On the club's Facebook page, he thanked their supporters who believed and stood by them during the judicial process. “I'm thankful to you all for your support and assistance. It was a true sign of brotherhood and this will go down in the history of this club,” he wrote.

Ngarizemo fears worst for NPL

Comments

Namibian Sun 2026-06-03

Please login to leave a comment

Ngarizemo fears worst for NPL

Comments

Namibian Sun 2026-06-03

Please login to leave a comment

Subscription Required to Access Content ×

Login

Subscription Required to Access Content