NPL expulsion would be dangerous - Mbidi

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISAWINDHOEKCosafa vice-president and former president of the NFA Frans Mbidi has warned that expelling the league from the NFA would be a terrible mistake.Mbidi was responding to an announcement this week that the expulsion of the league was on the NFA extraordinary congress agenda.The former president, who was at the helm of the league for only one term before being removed, advised that the two parties should rather come to an agreement through an independent mediator. Not wise enough “Well, I would not advise that the current NFA executive decide to expel the league as it would have lasting consequences.“At the end of the day, it was not entirely the league's fault that the first divisions did not take place, which caused all this drama.“I believe that the two parties must go out of their way to solve this matter through an independent mediator,” Mbidi said.The former president insisted that the league plays a critical role in Namibia's football structures and expelling it would take Namibia a step back.It is a move Mbidi believes would tarnish the reputation of the current NFA executive and its president.Mbidi advised the NFA to restructure the first-division structures before making any harsh decisions with lasting consequences. As things stand, the league has already lost its long sponsorship partner MTC and several football clubs have folded. Some football players have moved on with their lives and may never return to the beautiful game.“The sad part is that football players have struggled enough and there is a huge outcry for their pride to be restored.“If the expulsion happens, it is going to create an even bigger mess than what is already on the ground,” Mbidi added. The fightsThe NPL was officially suspended by the NFA in February for persistently disregarding the association's directives.This happened after the league had initially been suspended by the Normalisation Committee (NC) in October 2019 after they had requested the NC to send them league promotion/relegation rules for the new season.The NC refused to entertain the NPL's request and slapped them with a suspension which was later confirmed by the NFA congress in February.The suspension ensued after a lengthy stand-off between the two parties.The league management wanted to go ahead and start the new season with only 13 clubs, despite the NC's disapproval.The NPL has relegated Orlando Pirates and Civics, while Young African's demotion came after they fielded a foreign player registered under a fake name. Court CasesFollowing unsuccessful bids to be reinstated by orders of ordinary courts, the league filed a case with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in which it continues fight for its reinstatement.

NPL expulsion would be dangerous - Mbidi

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

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NPL expulsion would be dangerous - Mbidi

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

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