By Carlos
Kambaekwa
WINDHOEK – Newly elected Namibia Football Association (NFA) President, Frans Mbidi, has quashed ongoing suggestions that the association plans to effect wholesale changes aimed at restructuring its workforce including the technical department.
Sources with intimate knowledge of the planned change of guard at Football House revealed to New Era Sport that the hair-raising changes would see coachees turned into coaches.
Unconfirmed persisting rumours are doing the rounds that incumbent NFA Technical Director (TD), Klaus Staerke, will assume the role of head coach for the national senior football team, with incumbent mentor Ricardo Mannetti shifting a tier down as deputy to the German national.
According to insiders, the head coach of MTC Premiership outfit Tura Magic, Timo Tjongarero, who doubles up as Chief Educational Officer at the NFA is earmarked to take over the reigns from Staerke as the NFA TD.
Mbidi laughed off these talks, dismissing them as wishful thinking and hogwash. “I can categorically deny such plans because after all, I’m the one who must make such a call and as far I’m concerned, something like that never came under discussion.
However, Mbidi admitted with a wry smile that there would indeed be a few adjustments in the critical technical department. “I must confess that Staerke will no longer serve in the his current position since his contract came to an end but I’m quite confident he will be redeployed in other areas in the technical department.”
In the meantime, the country’s football supremo confirmed that the NFA Executive will converge in Windhoek for its much-hyped Mandatory Congress on Saturday. Topping the agenda will be the establishment of various standing committees to be appointed by the executive.
The sub-committees will consist of the following entities; constitutional, finance that will formulate policies, audit and compliance, competitions, emergency, technical and development.
“Our common goal is prosperity, we want to build a credible sound administration and professionalism while striving towards the principal of good ethics, credibility and more importantly, liability.”
The outspoken NFA president minced no words and hinted on the need to refurbish the office administration, adding that many of the NFA workforce lack working experience since they have only been in the employment of football. Mbidi also emphasized the importance of fostering a strong and close relationship with the local media.