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Home / We still recognise Haikali, Cosafa tells NFA…says ordinary congress was illegal

We still recognise Haikali, Cosafa tells NFA…says ordinary congress was illegal

2021-12-15  Otniel Hembapu

We still recognise Haikali, Cosafa tells NFA…says ordinary congress was illegal

Phillip Chiyangwa, the president of the Confederation of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa), has written to Fifa to make it clear that they still recognise Ranga Haikali as the legitimate president of the Namibia Football Association (NFA), despite his purported expulsion.

In his letter, dated 9 December 2021, addressed to Fifa secretary general Fatma Samoura and also copied to Confederation of Africa Football (Caf) secretary general Véron Mosengo-Omba, Chiyangwa said Cosafa will also not recognise all the decisions that were taken at the NFA’s recent 30th ordinary congress, which expelled Haikali and his entire executive committee members.

The NFA has since been without any leadership, with its secretary general Franco Cosmos doubling as head of the secretariat and executive. 

Haikali and fellow executive committee members’ expulsion has caused a serious divide within the local football fraternity, with some saying the ordinary congress that took the decision was unduly constituted and, therefore, all resolutions at that meeting are null and void.

Cosafa has also taken the same stance, saying they will not recognise all resolutions emanating from that ordinary congress, with Chiyangwa making it clear the regional football body still recognises Haikali as the authentic president of the NFA.

“Despite previous correspondence to and meetings with the NFA in recent weeks, the NFA defied the instructions issued by Caf/Fifa and proceeded to organise an ordinary general assembly at which, without following due process, the membership took the decision to dismiss the executive committee as a whole,” reads Chiyangwa’s letter.

“Cosafa has taken a position that it still recognises Ranga Haikali as the de facto president in line with Fifa/Caf resolve, and wishes that Namibian parties to any dispute compromise in their dealings with this situation.” 

Contacted for comment yesterday, Cosmos said there was nothing for the NFA to comment on, as Chiyangwa’s letter was addressed to Fifa and not them. 

“What comment? The letter is addressed to the secretary general of Fifa,” an unbothered Cosmos responded in short.

Cosafa’s latest position aligns with Fifa’s earlier stance on the banishment of Haikali as president when Fifa wrote to the local FA in September, directing them to put aside Haikali’s earlier suspension, as the decision was illegal. 

Fifa said Haikali remains the only recognised NFA president.

Haikali and the executive’s dismissal stems from a nasty squabble that has rocked the NFA Football House, which saw him and Cosmos crossing swords over a raft of allegations and counter allegations. 

Haikali accuses Cosmos of undermining his authority and bringing the NFA’s name into serious disrepute, especially when he awarded million-dollar tenders without his or the executive committee’s approval. 

Cosmos, on the other hand, accuses Haikali of similar offences.

- ohembapu@nepc.com.na


2021-12-15  Otniel Hembapu

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