The appeal launched by the expelled Namibia Premier League (NPL) against the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) has been heard and the final ruling on the matter will be delivered today.
The banished NPL is challenging the NSC’s decision not to grant it a licence to introduce and run a professional football league. Also, when broadly looked at, the NPL’s appeal extends to simultaneously contest the merits on which it was expelled by the Namibia Football Association (NFA) last year.
Late last year, the NSC informed the NPL that its application for a licence to operate a professional football league could not be granted because it does not meet the set requirements as per the provisions of the Sports Act 12 of 2003 (section 26). It recommended that the expelled NPL should rather, as a last resort, seek admission into the NFA’s envisaged Namibia Premier Football League (NPFL), which is a planned breakaway league intended to replace the NPL.
Loini Shikale-Ambondo, chairperson of the country’s sport appeals committee, yesterday confirmed to New Era Sport that the appeal has been heard and the ruling will be delivered this morning.
“You (the media) will thereafter be entitled to a copy,” said Shikale-Ambondo.
The NPL, in its appeal, has been demanding that the NSC set aside its decision not to approve its application for a licence to run a professional league. The NPL is also of the opinion that the NSC’s decision not to approve their application was taken at an incongruously constituted meeting. It further claims that the decision not taken by the NSC entire leadership, as there is no reference of a letter or documentation proof confirming a meeting of the NSC at which the decision was taken.
The appeals committee was installed by sports minister Agnes Tjongarero in August last year to help adjudicate local sport disputes.
Lawyer Shikale-Ambondo early this year took over as chairperson from fellow prominent lawyer Ruth Herunga, who resigned from the position early January.
– ohembapu@nepc.com.na