As of yesterday, clubs in the expelled Namibia Premier League (NPL) were swimming in a pool of confusion unsure of what the future holds for them in the now banished topflight football league.
This is in exception of African Stars and league newcomers Okahandja United, who both this week publicly came out to announce their position as far as the future of the NPL is concerned. The two clubs strongly condemned the league’s expulsion saying they won’t be part of an envisaged breakaway league.
As widely publicised, the usual eight clubs Blue Waters, Julinho Sporting, Mighty Gunners, Orlando Pirates, Tigers, Civics, Citizens and Young African, who are anti-NPL chairman Patrick Kauta, will be expected to be in favour of the mooted breakaway league away from the expelled NPL.
With African Stars, Okahandja United and the eight clubs varying positions known, New Era Sport yesterday spoke to the remaining clubs to gauge and hear their views.
Coastal outfit Eleven Arrows representative Ralph Ruiters said the club has not yet made any decision regarding the latest developments as they are still waiting for an official communication and a league board of governors (BoG) meeting to be called to map the way forward.
“We haven’t made any decision yet, we are still waiting to meet all our fellow members at the upcoming NPL BoG meeting to see what the way forward is. Once that happens, then we’ll be able to pronounce the club’s position regarding that matter. So far, there’s no decision made yet. The NFA also has not communicated with us regarding this matter, so no decision at all,” said Ruiters.
Karasburg-based club Young Brazilians’ Milton Eiseb said the club has not received any official communications from the NFA and thus it will be premature to pronounce their position at the moment until a formal communication is made. “It’s still premature to comment now, but we did not yet get information from NFA. At this point in time, there is so much uncertainty surrounding this whole conversation and I still have to consult my whole executive at the club. However, we haven’t changed from what we believed in, we will still stick to that decision [remaining with NPL],” said Eiseb
Coastal giants Blue Waters representative Ephraim Shozi said they are yet to receive official information from the mother body [NFA], but they are concerned with the matter.
“We have not received anything from both parties, so far what we have been hearing is from the grapevine, until we get something on paper, then we as a club will not be in a better position to pronounce ourselves. There is still no clear information, we don’t want to send wrong information at the moment,” said Shozi.
The NPL was last weekend expelled by the NFA extra-ordinary congress after a substantial 19 out of the 21 delegates supported the motion to banish the league while only two delegates moved against ousting the country’s topflight football league. On Tuesday, MTC also announced that it has terminated its relationship with the now expelled NPL.
-mkambukwe@nepc.com.na