WINDHOEK – The race for the much-adored Namibia Football Association (NFA) presidential candidacy has taken a new turn and it’s likely to go down to the wire with Ranga Haikali emerging a strong favourite to occupy the plum position in the country’s football.
Although a dark cloud hangs over the eligibility of Haikali, the local business mogul and his campaign team are keeping their cards very close to the chest while laughing off suggestions that Haikali is ineligible to vie for the NFA presidency as prescribed by amendments to the NFA statutes.
The position becomes vacant on the 6th of this month following the expiry of incumbent president John Muinjo’s eight-year term.
Sources close to Haikali confirmed to New Era Sport that the charismatic Black Africa chairman and his team of advisers have been burning the midnight oil – lobbying vigorously for votes ahead of this week’s much anticipated NFA Elective Congress.
The Haikali camp is reported to have recently held behind-closed-door discussions with NFA affiliates in the Otjozondjupa Region and other previously no-go areas to garner support.
According to insiders, Haikali enjoys support from the country’s flagship league, NPL, and its affiliates (the first division streams) while Khomas, Hardap, Erongo and Karas have apparently declared their support for Haikali as well.