By Carlos Kambaekwa
WINDHOEK – Retired Namibia Football Association (NFA) President John Muinjo, refuses to take credit for the healthy state of affairs currently enjoyed by the country’s football governing body.
Slightly more than eight years ago, Muinjo took over the reigns from incumbent Namibian Deputy Chief Justice, advocate Petrus Damaseb, the man accredited for having transformed the ailing fortunes of domestic football for the better.
He managed against all odds staked against him to maintain stability and high standards set by the no nonsense Warwick graduate.
Muinjo was showered with praises for his role in almost single-handedly masterminding Namibia’s cleverly executed lobbying to be awarded hosting rights for the just-ended successful tn mobile CAF Women’s Championship in Windhoek.
NFA made the doubting Thomasses seat and eat humble pie with the professional manner in which it hosted the continental showpiece that saw the host team winning the hearts and confidence as well as the admiration of the usually hard-to-please local supporters through an array of unforgettable display of football out of the top drawer.
Namibia received unbelievable accolades from CAF and high 5s from several business entities for a job well done, with CAF President Issa Hayatou, saying Namibia had surpassed all expectations and certainly had the capacity to host major events including the biannual CAF African Nations Cup, in due course.
“We have always worked as a team and my ultimate objective was to instill discipline and confidence in the colleagues where basics were always to be considered,” enthused Muinjo.
He added that while striving for continued professionalism, people should be proud to be associated with a strong growing and stable brand such as the NFA. “We should not weaken a strength to strengthen a weakness that’s why I strongly believe in continuity and capacity building,” stressed Muinjo.
Muinjo could not resist a parting shot at his distracters, saying he believed football people should always be respectful towards each other, be tolerant and exercise the spirit of “Fair Play” at all times.
Quizzed as to why he did not push for a third term as widely expected by many, the FIFA accredited match assessor/commissioner said: “I’ve served my time and though there were still some unfinished business, I did not want to be perceived as power hungry. Nevertheless, I will continue to serve football to the best of my ability in an advisory capacity as NFA honorary president, should the need arise”.