Windhoek
The well-kept secret of the frosty romance between MTC Premiership honcho, Johnny ‘JJD’ Doeseb and his protégé, Rudolf Bester, has reached boiling point.
The two football heavyweights are at each other’s throats over serious allegations of misconduct and fraudulent practices levelled against the charismatic NPL strongman.
At the centre of the ugly spat is a large chunk of money apparently owed to Bester for his high profile transfer from South African Premiership (PSL) outfit Maritzburg United to fellow PSL campaigners Orlando Pirates in September 2011.
New Era Sport has been reliably informed that Bester, a former Eleven Arrows and Brave Warriors forward, is a man possessed and wants justice to prevail.
The nimble-footed Otjiwarongo-born athlete is furious and accuses Doeseb of having committed serious misconduct, as per Rule 31.1 (h) of the NFA Statutes, by concluding an autograph and image rights agreement with Pirates on his behalf, without obtaining prior consent.
Its alleged Doeseb committed fraud by abusing his position of trust as chairman of the NPL to broker a deal between Bester and his new club, Orlando Pirates.
It is said Doeseb that presented himself as the sole representative of Bester with the result that portions of the initial signing on fee of N$1.4 million was paid in two installments – N$450 000 and N$400 000 – into the bank account JJD Property Investments cc, a company that has no business dealings whatsoever with football-related matters.
Sadly, Bester only received N$450 000 and although the final installment of N$550 000 was paid directly to him by Pirates, the player is now seeking to have his palms greased with the outstanding amount of N$400 000, but Doeseb is having none of that.
The aggrieved player sought recourse with the country’s football controlling body NFA, but his plea was ostensibly greeted with silence. Bester would not budge and then took his case to the Namibia Football Players Union (NAFPU) for intervention.
NAFPU has in no uncertain terms ordered the flamboyant NPL chairman to reimburse Bester with the outstanding amount of N$400 000, plus 20 percent interest as of July 2012 up to the date of final settlement.
“We tried by all means to keep this matter under wraps for an extended period, but he (Doeseb) resorted to playing the hide and seek game, thus leaving us with no other option than to throw this ugly spat into the public domain,” charged an agitated NFPU secretary general Olsen Kahiriri.
“We at NAFPU will make sure this miscarriage of justice is addressed and will use all relevant processes. We have passed the matter onto the NFA for intervention since NPL does not have the muscles to take action against its own commander-in-chief.
“Nevertheless, we have faith the association has the required capacity to act and address unethical conduct, such as this one.”
Kahiriri added that for his own sake and integrity, he would like to urge Doeseb to settle the outstanding debt, if he is to avoid sanctions and avoid paying further damages, while in the process denting his credibility.
On his part, Doeseb shot back claiming the allegations are a cock and bull story: “You might recall that I was the chairman of Eleven Arrows when Bester got his first professional contract in South Africa. I spent a fortune on that guy when we had to cancel his contract with his team in Malta, approximately N$180 000, to allow him to join forces with Maritzburg United.”
Doeseb is adamant he is entitled to a N$300 000 management fee, as the designated facilitator of Bester’s transfer to Pirates.
“I also bought him a three-bedroom house in Walvis Bay to the tune of N$285 000 cash from the transfer fee to Martitzburg United. So, as far as I’m concerned, I don’t owe him a single penny.”