The Namibia Football Association (NFA) and the Namibia Premier League (NPL) are entangled in a fresh brawl over the affiliation of clubs, following the NPL’s invitation to various teams to join its National First Division.
The NPL’s invitation letters, dated 8 February 2022, were sent to all teams in the three national streams; namely the North West First Division (NWFD), North East First Division (NEFD), and the Southern Stream First Division (SSFD), including Orlando Pirates, Young Africans, Chief Santos, Rundu Chiefs, Civics, and Young Chiefs.
The NPL asked the clubs to express their interest in wanting to join the National First Division, and if they so wish, they have until 22 February at 12h00 to submit their expression of interest. “A meeting will be called after the deadline, at which the clubs who have expressed interest agree to a binding but competitive criterion of a national character for the formation of the National First Division. Rest assured that the formation of the National First Division is in the best interest of Namibia,” reads the NPL’s letter to the clubs.
The NPL, the body responsible for managing and administering professional football in Namibia and which is registered with the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC), also wrote separate letters to Tigers, Mighty Gunners and Julinho Sporting, wherein they requested the clubs to also express their interest of wanting to continue as members of the NPL or not. They were also given until 22 February at 12h00 to submit their expression of interest.
On Wednesday this week, NFA secretary general Franco Cosmos wrote to all clubs warning them not to develop any relations with the NPL, saying any club that wishes to do so must immediately resign as a member of the NFA. “The NFA is aware of invitations to our member clubs by the NPL, and would like to caution them in terms of NFA statutes Article 13 (i), which states: ‘not to entertain any relations of a sporting nature with entities that are not recognised or with members that have been suspended or expelled’.” “Should a member club select to join the NPL, that member is requested to resign from the NFA membership,” said Cosmos.
Responding to Cosmos’ letter, the NPL’s leadership yesterday released a statement cautioning Cosmos not to mislead and intimidate clubs by threatening them to stay away from the NPL. The NPL said Cosmos scored an own goal by suggesting that clubs are members of the NFA, which is a direct contradiction of Article 10 of the NFA, which categorises clubs as members of a member of the NFA. It means the clubs are exclusively members of their respective leagues, and the leagues are in fact the ones that are affiliated to the NFA, not the clubs as being perceived by Cosmos, the NPL leadership argued.
“Article 10 of the NFA statutes is crystal clear that clubs are not members of the NFA. The NFA missive is conceited, dishonest and disingenuous. Accordingly, Article 13 (i) of the NFA statutes has no application. The NFA motive is to intimidate unsuspecting clubs and cause confusion. The NPL’s invitation is a transparent scheme to move beyond petty football politics and form a league (NFD) of a national character. Football is the ultimate winner, and it will surely commence soon. Several clubs have already answered affirmatively to the NPL invitation,” reads the NPL’s statement.