The Namibia Football Association interim secretary general is eager to get the local leagues running again.
Jochen Traut was last week announced by the Fifa-appointed Normalisation Committee as the most capable person to run football administration and operations for a year. He took up the post with immediate effect.
Traut will also oversee the election of a new executive committee which will then appoint the substantive leader.
He replaced Jacky Gertze who temporarily filled the position since April this year.
Namibia has been without football since 2019 due to infighting among the leadership that has affected the local football scene as a whole.
Traut told New Era Sport he was happy to have been appointed as the new SG and is aware it won’t be an easy assignment.
“I am aware of how much work I need to do to get things together. It’s a huge burden put on my shoulders but we would have to work together to reach a common goal,” he said.
“We will need to put a proper structure in place; look at all policies to ensure that everything is running smoothly.”
Asked what his philosophy is to turn around the fortunes of Namibian football, Traut said it would be getting sponsors on board.
“It’s going to be a tough one, but on top of my list should be the return of local football. We will also need to put a proper structure in place as well as evaluate the policies. We will also have to review the current football statutes.”
“Getting the league to start again will also require us to look for sponsors to ensure the sustainability of football in Namibia,” he added.
Traut is thankful for the support from the Normalisation Committee as well as the public at large.
“It has been an overwhelming response from the public since I was announced by the NFA. I hope we can work together for a common goal,” he said.
Traut is an information and communication technology professional, who has held several senior executive positions in that industry throughout his career.
He is not a stranger to football administration, having served as manager of former Namibia Premier League (NPL) side SKW as well as an executive committee member of the NPL.
Traut also has coaching experience.
– mkambukwe@nepc.com.na