Zebalt Ngaruka

The supporters of once-formidable football club Black Africa (BA) said they are not happy with the planned team’s annual general meeting (AGM) set for Khorixas this weekend in the Kunene region.

Speaking on behalf of the supporters, Shaun Asprilla Gariseb said the team leadership is deliberately excluding them, and taking the meeting from its support base Windhoek to Khorixas, to capture the club forever.

“As per the team constitution, the term of office of the current leadership is coming to an end on 2 November 2024, and must be in the hands of supporters, but they are dribbling. Ideally, we know for sure of the ill-intentions of this leadership,” he stated.

He added that supporters are supposed to be informed, but they do not regard them as such, adding that they have a handful number of supporters.

“They prefer to inform only those whom they can control, and then to convene. These guys are not able to call an AGM,” he said.

The spokesperson added that BA is a historical team, known as Gemengde Boys in the capital, which is clear that Windhoek is their homeground. 

“These people don’t have a supporters’ club, as they claim. That is why they don’t have games played in Windhoek. They are taking meetings away from people. The alternative places could be Otjiwarongo, Gobabis, Keetmanshoop and Döbra,” he said.

He stated that the team does not have a history in Khorixas, where the current chairperson Tomi Adams hails from.

He added that the supporters are in support of the football team that is currently in place, and nobody intends to dismantle it the moment any new leadership comes into existence. 

“We understand very well that it will effectively kill BA because, as clearly stated, it’s not about us, but about the Black and Red,” he said.

To facilitate the unification of the whole supporters and get the team to be supported by everyone, he said it is sensible to elect a new leadership.

“The AGM should not be about the supporters who are in good standing, or who are bonafide members. What does that even mean? We are all BA supporters,” he said.  Gariseb views that it will be fair to everyone if the current leadership is removed, and a new one is elected.

He said the problem is that the current leadership is refusing, and the only way is to remove them through a vote of no confidence for the supporters to choose a leadership of their choice to unite everyone. “The court case is over, and the powers that were given by the courts, and the Namibia Football Association to Adam’s leadership will come to an end on 2 November. But we feel that they still want to impose themselves on the supporters, while they are perfectly aware that their term of office came to an end,” noted the spokesperson. 

Gariseb suggested that the new leadership should not consist of a board or exco made up of individuals from Adams or Kandas Paulino’s leadership. 

“It should be independent BA members from the supporters,” he suggested. 

– zngaruka@yahoo.com