Palace coup at NFA
JESSE KAURAISA
The power struggle at the Namibia Football Association (NFA) has taken its toll, leaving its fired president confused and creating an uncertain future for the association.
The NFA's executive committee on Saturday dismissed Frans Mbidi as the association's president, just months before its annual congress.
Mbidi had been accused of insubordination and there were also allegations that he had taken money from the Moroccan bid officials to vote for that association's World Cup bid.
“The executive committee, having convened in terms of Article 34 (2), further resolved in terms of Article 35 (0) to dismiss the president, Mr Frans Mbidi, until the congress of 12 January 2019, for submission of the motion in accordance with Article 37 (1).
“This drastic action is necessitated by Mr Mbidi's failure to adhere to his duties in the NFA constitution [and] not convening executive committee meetings as per the NFA statutes, in particular Article 34.1,” the statement reads.
The statement further accuses Mbidi of failing to implement exco decisions as per Article 38.2(a).
Mbidi had been accused of being untruthful and misrepresenting exco resolutions to FIFA and CAF.
Further accusations included rendering the NFA secretariat ungovernable and failure to refute a report from NFA's official delegates to the FIFA congress in Moscow that he had taken money from Moroccan officials to vote for that association's World Cup bid.
Mbidi declined to respond to the accusations, but said that the truth would come out.
“Nothing was communicated towards me and I am therefore not in any position to comment on this matter. All I can say is that the truth will always come out,” Mbidi fumed.
Attempts to oust Mbidi began early this year after he had decided to remove long-serving secretary-general Barry Rukoro.
In February the former NFA president announced that the football association would not renew Rukoro's contract.
Mbidi cited Article 38 (d) (3) of the NFA constitution, which reads: “Only the president may propose the appointment or dismissal of the secretary-general.”
This resulted in the majority of the NFA executive committee challenging Mbidi's decision.
The executive disputed Mbidi's decision by citing Article (35) (i) of the NFA constitution, which says that “the executive committee shall appoint or dismiss the secretary-general”.
At the time, Mbidi maintained that his decision on Rukoro was final, adding that people should not fear positive change within the NFA.
In April, the NFA emergency committee, consisting of the first and second vice-presidents, resolved to keep Rukoro in office despite his term having expired.
Rukoro has served in the position since 2007, while Mbidi has been president of the association since 2014.
It was resolved that the NFA would make its final decision on Rukoro's future at the congress that had been scheduled for December, and then postponed to January.
Naftal Ngalangi has been appointed as acting president until the January congress.
The power struggle at the Namibia Football Association (NFA) has taken its toll, leaving its fired president confused and creating an uncertain future for the association.
The NFA's executive committee on Saturday dismissed Frans Mbidi as the association's president, just months before its annual congress.
Mbidi had been accused of insubordination and there were also allegations that he had taken money from the Moroccan bid officials to vote for that association's World Cup bid.
“The executive committee, having convened in terms of Article 34 (2), further resolved in terms of Article 35 (0) to dismiss the president, Mr Frans Mbidi, until the congress of 12 January 2019, for submission of the motion in accordance with Article 37 (1).
“This drastic action is necessitated by Mr Mbidi's failure to adhere to his duties in the NFA constitution [and] not convening executive committee meetings as per the NFA statutes, in particular Article 34.1,” the statement reads.
The statement further accuses Mbidi of failing to implement exco decisions as per Article 38.2(a).
Mbidi had been accused of being untruthful and misrepresenting exco resolutions to FIFA and CAF.
Further accusations included rendering the NFA secretariat ungovernable and failure to refute a report from NFA's official delegates to the FIFA congress in Moscow that he had taken money from Moroccan officials to vote for that association's World Cup bid.
Mbidi declined to respond to the accusations, but said that the truth would come out.
“Nothing was communicated towards me and I am therefore not in any position to comment on this matter. All I can say is that the truth will always come out,” Mbidi fumed.
Attempts to oust Mbidi began early this year after he had decided to remove long-serving secretary-general Barry Rukoro.
In February the former NFA president announced that the football association would not renew Rukoro's contract.
Mbidi cited Article 38 (d) (3) of the NFA constitution, which reads: “Only the president may propose the appointment or dismissal of the secretary-general.”
This resulted in the majority of the NFA executive committee challenging Mbidi's decision.
The executive disputed Mbidi's decision by citing Article (35) (i) of the NFA constitution, which says that “the executive committee shall appoint or dismiss the secretary-general”.
At the time, Mbidi maintained that his decision on Rukoro was final, adding that people should not fear positive change within the NFA.
In April, the NFA emergency committee, consisting of the first and second vice-presidents, resolved to keep Rukoro in office despite his term having expired.
Rukoro has served in the position since 2007, while Mbidi has been president of the association since 2014.
It was resolved that the NFA would make its final decision on Rukoro's future at the congress that had been scheduled for December, and then postponed to January.
Naftal Ngalangi has been appointed as acting president until the January congress.
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