By Otniel Hembapu
WINDHOEK – Katutura football glamour team, African Stars was on Friday expelled from the country’s flagship league, the MTC Namibia Premier League (NPL), for two full football seasons and also slapped in the face with a whopping fine of N$ 200,000 for bringing the game of football into disrepute.
Following a court case that has up to now failed to remedy the situation, coupled by a few verbal jabs between the two parties, the NPL hierarchy at last Thursday’s Extra Ordinary General Assembly, held at the Windhoek County Club, took a resolution to terminate Stars membership for two full seasons, a decision that was also endorsed by 10 out of the 11 clubs present at the meeting.
The suspension follows hot on the heels of two court cases lodged by Stars against the Namibia Football Association (NFA), Namibia Premier League (NPL) and its 11 other members, a move the NPL hierarchy clearly described a direct contravention of the NPL constitution that prohibits all football disputes to be resolved in civil courts, according to Doeseb.
Besides Stars, the club’s chairman Sidney Martin and one of the club’s directors Clint Dauti were also suspended from all NPL-related activities for a period of two seasons, with immediate effect. According to NPL chairman Johnny ‘JJD’ Doeseb, Stars’ N$200 000 fine shall be payable in two installments, with the first installment payable on or before August 15, 2014 and final installment payable on or before September 15, 2014.
“No change of status of an existing NPL club can be exchanged to and purchased by or transferred to that of African Stars SC (PTY) Ltd, or come under the leadership of the above mentioned suspended chairman and director of African Stars for the duration of the two seasons,” cautioned Doeseb.
Meanwhile Stars chairman, Martin described their suspension as illegal, saying they were not accorded an opportunity to appear before a disciplinary hearing before the NPL could at least top brass take a decision to expel the club. Martin said they will hold a club meeting to look into their facts while also exploring other avenues in search of guidance, before they launch an appeal.