It has never been my beat to interfere in the internal maneuverings and politics of football clubs, let alone dictate to the authorities how they should run and administer their clubs.
However, if words attributed to Tigers Football Club official Lukas Nanyemba, following the acrimonious departure of Bobby Samaria, are true, then yours truly would be obliged by the oath of my daily functions to join the debate, as these shenanigans have provoked a howl of protest that should be heeded.
We are talking here about a well-respected and much-adored coach, armed with a proven pedigree, not only as coach but also as a notable athlete during his playing days, where he proved himself as one of the most visionary midfielders this country has ever produced.
Needless to point out that Samaria has transformed Tigers from perennial underachievers into a formidable title-challenging unit. The Bidvest Cup triumph is a case in point.
It has become common practice in Namibian football that elected club officials – some of whom are in the game by default – have become the arbiters of what is fit and proper within local football.
The question that needs to be addressed with vigour is: does personal bias soften the edges of moral outrage, thus blurring the lines between perception and reality?
Obviously, it’s a bitter to pill to swallow for a team of Tigers’ caliber and rich footballing history to be content with living in the shadow of their more illustrious rivals, Black Africa and African Stars, let alone having been unceremoniously overtaken by “Kid Brother” Tura Magic in the pecking order of top-flight football.
For starters, both Black Africa and African Stars have invested massively in terms of financial resources and assembled the best possible squads to compete at the highest level, a practice which culminated in handsome returns: league titles.
Truth be told, it was a tall order and a somewhat unsettling demand by the club’s top management that put Samaria in a tight corner, expecting the man to propel a team with limited resources and average players to win the coveted MTC Premiership title.
Any coach worth his salt would be gravely compromised by such foolish demands, as such far-fetched expectations could derail the team’s progress.
It’s a well-documented secret that yours truly has been advocating for the country’s oldest football club to stand up and be counted.
Ingwe have absolutely no business playing second fiddle to anybody in domestic football.
Needless to mention that I feel pity for Tigers’ incoming coach, Brian Isaacs, who I’m led to believe has been mandated in no uncertain terms to wrestle the elusive MTC Premiership crown away from incumbent champions, African Stars.
HELLO! Ambitions must be reciprocated by resources and if the overly ambitious bigwigs at Tigers are really serious in their quest to bring the title to Donkerhoek, they must get their ducks in a row and recruit gifted players.
Yours truly is afraid that as long as Tigers keep losing their best players to rivals – and with leading striker, Kaka Nekundi, rumoured to be seeking greener pastures beyond Namibia’s borders – such aspirations will quite likely remain a mere pipe dream.
I rest my case.