Windhoek
The interim chief administrator of the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) Walter Haseb has condemned in the strongest terms maneuverings by the so-called Concerned Group for National Sports Bodies.
The group, consisting mainly of minority white-dominated sporting disciplines, recently voiced concerns that the Namibian sports fraternity is way behind in terms of development, a scenario it blames on the fact that sport is still regulated by an Act gazetted in 2003.
The rebel group held several behind-the-curtain discussions with an ensemble of negligible sports codes, where members threatened to seek legal recourse should their demands not be met by the country’s presiding sports body.
Haseb, however, would have none of it and has expressed dismay and disgust over what he termed “clandestine activities” by the aggrieved parties, while telling the hotheads in no uncertain terms where to get off.
He further says it has been brought to the NSC’s attention that the dissident group is canvassing for support from various sports codes.
“I just want to make it categorically clear that the NSC is the only national sports body in terms of the [Namibian Sports] Act of 2003, and all other umbrella sports bodies or associations are required by law to affiliate to the NSC,” a visibly irritated Haseb explained.
Haseb says the NSC can, by virtue of the Namibian Sports Act, establish sub-committees for specific purposes.
“As it stands, only the NSC can convene meetings with its affiliates and although in exceptional cases, umbrella bodies are allowed to have discussions with their subjects within their structures, such gatherings should be communicated to the NSC ”.
Haseb added that should anybody outside the structures call a meeting with members of NSC affiliates, it should come from a recognised body: “I appeal to such sports codes to verify with the NSC whether such a body is sanctioned by the NSC or not.”
Amongst a range of trivial grievances the rebel group is demanding an explanation as to why Harald Fulle’s temporary employment contract was not extended by the NSC.
Fulle was roped in as a consultant to the NSC on a six-months rolling contract, which ran full circle before it was extended for a further three months.