Maqonda Ndlovu
The Southern Stream First Division has released the round eight and nine fixtures of the 2023/24 season, which see the return of Black Africa (BA) on the fixtures list.
BA, beset by administration problems for the past two seasons, have failed to play a single game this season as two factions vie for ownership and control of the club.
Several fixtures between BA and fellow SSFD clubs have witnessed clashes between a faction led by Thomas Adams and another led by Bonnie Paulino, both on and off the field, with Judge Herman Oosthuizen set to pass judgment today at the Windhoek High Court.
The dispute is over the newly adopted constitution, which was adopted on 8 July 2023, and the leadership elected after that.
Consequently, the board of directors was elected with Boni Paulino as chairperson and Rebekka Goagoses deputising. Rino Muranda, Michael Jimmy, Doris Doreen Lamperdt, Scarra Khaiseb, and Browny Mutrifa are ordinary members of the board.
The chairperson of the club’s old executive, Okeri Mbingeneeko, filed an urgent application in December last year on behalf of the club and the Paulino-led faction to seek a court interdict against members of the executive committee of the other faction, which was elected in line with the old constitution.
Mbingeneeko, on behalf of the club, wants the court to interdict Adams and his team from interfering in the club’s affairs using the assets, name, logo, and brand.
They also want the court to order the group to hand over the club’s properties. That other group comprises Thomas Adams, Sylvester Titus, Dralli Titus, Willie Anton van Wyk, and Helmuth Hochobeb.
Adams and his team claim that Mbingeneeko and his group do not have the legal right to institute a lawsuit on behalf of BA.
They further claim that Mbingeneeko is not the club’s chairperson, nor is he a member of any executive committee. Thus, he has no authority.
Furthermore, the constitution adopted on 8 July 2023 is not valid.
They went on to say that the valid constitution of BA ‘adopted on 7 November 2020, which remains in force, was and still is recognised by the NFA, NPFL and the SSFD.
When contacted about why BA was fixtured during an ongoing court case, league administrator Josua Tovey Hoebeb declined to comment.
– jrnmarko@gmail.com
SSFD weekend fixtures:
Round eight: 2 March 2024
Oranjemund vs. Black Africa
Try Again vs. Ramblers
Eleven Arrows vs. DTS
Blue Boys vs. Davos
Dates Eleven vs. Namibia Correctional Services
Mariental Sports Club vs. Latinos
Round nine: 3 March 2024
Oranjemund vs. Ramblers
Try Again vs. Black Africa
Eleven Arrows vs. Davos
Blue Boys vs. DTS
Dates Eleven vs. Latinos
Mariental Sports Club vs. Namibia Correctional Services