The Namibia Football Association (NFA), which expelled the Namibia Premier League (NPL) and its entire executive committee, this past Friday wrote to 16 NPL affiliated clubs inviting them to apply for membership with the association to be part of a new premier league that will resort under the NFA.

The letter, which was signed by NFA acting secretary general Franco Cosmos, said each club who wish to be a member of the top tier club is requested to apply in writing to the NFA secretariat within 14 days.

The clubs that are invited are African Stars, Black Africa, Blue Waters, Citizens, Civics, Eleven Arrows, Julinho, Life Fighters, Mighty Gunners, Okahandja United, Orlando Pirates, Tigers, Tura Magic, University of Namibia (Unam), Young African and Young Brazilian. The call for the application comes after the NFA expelled the Namibia Premier League as a member on 22 July during an extraordinary congress.

The expulsion then created the need to establish a top tier league in the country and comes at a time when the NPL has registered itself with the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA) as an ‘association not for gain’ with the aim of professionalising football in Namibia.

Clubs up in arms

Meanwhile, eight of the expelled NPL clubs have come out guns blazing, rejecting what they term as ‘unprocedural registration’ of the NPL as a section 21 company with BIPA. The eight clubs, namely; Blue Waters, Civics, Citizens, Julinho, Mighty Gunners, Tigers, Orlando Pirates and Young African, said the actions of ‘some expelled characters are highly questionable’.

The clubs question how the decision to register NPL as a business entity was reached without a congress resolution, or NPL Board of Governors and/or executive committee consent or authorisation. These clubs further questioned Minister of Youth Sport and National Service, Agnes Tjongarero’ s motives, by accusing her of interference into football matters, saying she is intentionally bringing the game of football into disrepute.

The clubs have called on the Namibia Sports Commission to reject the application by the NPL to be registered as a football federation, saying the NFA is the only legitimate custodian of football in Namibia.  

– Nampa