In his first 90 days in office, newly-elected Namibia Football Association (NFA) president Robert Shimooshili envisions starting all the lower leagues and regional women’s leagues, as well as sourcing infrastructure for all the associations’ regional offices.
The Blue Waters chairman was elected NFA president last Friday after garnering 19 votes out of 34 over Patrick Katuta’s 15 votes.
In an exclusive interview with New Era Sport yesterday at NFA offices, the new president expressed his gratitude for the mandate and wasted no time outlining his immediate objectives.
He said a key focus in the initial three months of his tenure will be addressing the dearth of infrastructure for NFA regional members.
“My top priority on the agenda is to initiate the commencement of all lower leagues, including all women’s leagues in the regions. At the same time, we are committed to addressing the lack of infrastructure for our regional members. It’s disheartening to see that some members currently operate without proper offices, managing FA affairs from the confines of their car boots or homes, a situation that is far from ideal and requires urgent rectification,” Shimooshili asserted.
He also highlighted plans to revive the FA Cup, extending participation opportunities to women.
The last edition of the FA Cup was played in 2021, which was won by Civics after they beat Mighty Gunners 3-2.
He said bringing it back is part of the agenda.
“We aim to rejuvenate the FA Cup, which has been inactive for several years. Additionally, we are exploring ways to involve women in the entire FA Cup experience,” he stated. Asked about the emphasis on uniting the football fraternity, Shimooshili underscored the need for cohesion, especially in light of the transition from the Normalisation Committee (NC).
“During the NC, not everyone united, but we now have the mandate to unite the entire country, regardless of affiliations. We should discourage divisive elements in football. By standing together as a nation through football, we are more likely to achieve significant success on the global or continental stage,” he emphasised.
Furthermore, Shimooshili said Football House will be open to the public for suggestions and inputs to drive development and inclusivity. – mkambukwe@nepc.com.na