THE Namibia Football Association (NFA) has written to African Stars demanding almost N$1,4 million which the mother body says the 2022/23 champions owe due to their participation in this season’s African Champions League (ACL) tournament.
Stars participated in the ACL preliminary round, where they were knocked out by Zambia’s Power Dynamos on away goals rule following a two-all aggregate score in the two-legged qualifier.
The Namibian team had won 2-1 in Dobsonville, South Africa, before losing 1-0 in Zambia.
In its letter of demand, the NFA says it will deduct a total of N$1 389 825 it claims it is owed by Stars from any prize money or grant due to the club until the debt is fully paid.
The NFA added that should Stars wish to come up with a formal debt repayment plan, they can engage the mother body.
African Stars executive chairman Salomo Hei acknowledged receiving the letter and said he was disappointed at the level of unprofessionalism displayed by the mother body.
“First of all, why is such a confidential letter in the hands of the public? Four people received this letter. I, the acting SG (Jochen Traut), the NFA president Robert Shimooshili, and the lady who sent the email. How did it end up in the public’s hands?” Hei asked.
Hei said Stars have written letters to the NFA that never make it to the public domain, citing the recent gate prize issue as an example.
He added that as Stars, they will carry a certain amount of responsibility for the funds, while the NFA must also shoulder some of the responsibility.
“When we won the league, there was a discussion surrounding Stars ambitions in the ACL. It was agreed that NFA would use some funds, with the hope that the team qualifies for the group stages.
They (NFA) also informed Caf late about the issue of the stadium; hence, we had to play our match away, increasing the costs of the project,” he explained.
The Stars boss said his club did not receive their December grant from the NFA without any explanation or engagement between the two parties, something that is illegal.
“We are consulting our legal team on this matter. NFA never discussed anything with us. They just withheld our grant without any explanation,” he said.