The ensuing brouhaha and shocking reaction to the suspension of the Namibia Football Association (NFA) long serving secretary general Barry Rukoro caught yours truly with mixed emotions and left me with more questions than answers.
For starters, was the decision by the NFA President Frans Mbidi to dispatch his supposedly trusted lieutenant in harmony with the association’s statutes dealing with member suspensions, or what was it an act of anger and frustration? I’m just asking.
Rukoro stands accused of having committed countless acts of gross insubordination – this is according to NFA honcho Mbidi.
Now the fundamental question that needs to be addressed is: should the accused have violated any procedures or been lax towards the execution of his designated duties, was he ever reprimanded for his misdemeanours via a gentle wrap on the knuckles, or was any disciplinary measure taken against him in the form of an oral or written warning? I’m just asking.
Did the NFA heavyweights appoint a competent committee to oversee the successful implementation of the said programmes for which the NFA secretary general is held accountable? I’m just asking.
Should he be charged for misconduct on these yet to be specified allegations of having committed an act of gross insubordination – where does the process start? I’m just asking.
Firstly from my own observation and obviously what logic suggests, the suspension of Rukoro with immediate effect did not follow due process as confirmed by the NFA president himself. The brother found solace in his misinterpretation of the wording, “the powers that are vested in me” .
The Namibian head of state also had dozens of powers duly vested in him but I’m damn certain many of you would scorn to own me in a lie if I dare declare that Dr Hage Geingob would not just wake up one morning and resolve to dismantle the entire Cabinet at his own discretion, on the grounds that he is duly entitled to take such drastic steps.
Though Mbidi adamantly claims to have been given the approval by his henchmen, in this case, the NFA Emergency Committee, chaired by Mbidi and his two Vice-Presidents, to send Rukoro on special leave, one wonders why this issue is suddenly being treated as an emergency. I’m just asking.
Please before you get me wrong and start accusing yours truly of choosing sides and being biased with my analyses of this awkward situation – the bone of contention here is the application in dealing with the crystal clear violation of basic procedures that appear not have been followed correctly by the NFA president, so to speak.
Or perhaps is there more than meets the eye to this ugly debacle that threatens to open a can of worms and bring our beautiful game of football into disrepute? I’m just asking.
Was this suspension perhaps triggered by the concealed disagreement between the two NFA strongmen with regard to their preferred candidates for the FIFA presidency and does the timing of Rukoro’s suspension ring a bell? I’m just asking.
Is it true that the NFA hierarchy under the guidance of Mbidi for a considerable period had their long knives drawn out for Rukoro’s blood with fresh revelations rearing their ugly head that Brave Warriors head coach Jacqui Shipanga has been earmarked to succeed Rukoro as NFA secretary general? I’m just asking. Well on that note, I rest my case.