What do the USA, FIFA and NFA have in common? Well, don’t ask me but all I know is that they are all associations/entities and at some point are obliged to hold elections for their respective office bearers, or rather their men in blue suits.
The ongoing USA presidential race resembles a side-show of epic proportions, with The Trump topping the clown charts and sending some parts of the world into preparing for WWIII.
At the other end – in Zurich, Switzerland – there is a new sheriff at FIFA’s headquarters after the world football governing body elected a new president last week to succeed disgraced Sepp Blatter.
Please allow me to welcome Mr Gianni Infantino to the dog-eat-dog world of football with all it’s intricacies that can match any soap opera at any given day – had it not been for the seriousness of the fallout and subsequent suspensions and court cases.
Back on home soil, the seemingly trigger-happy NFA president Frans Mbidi suspended long-serving secretary general Barry Rukoro – only to make a sudden turn and withdraw his unilateral and hastily taken decision.
The two football heavyweights jumped into bed and kissed up as they boarded the same flight on an overseas excursion to smooth things over and cast their vote for their preferred African FIFA candidate. Now that is history.
What is bothersome is this trend of suspension shenanigans appears to be happening ad nauseum in sport sectors, the private sector and governmental institutions. With no outcome in sight and no action against the fingered culprits, this gives the perceived guilty party carte blanche to carry on perpetrating the old ways.
A rugby friend and colleague in a neighbouring town has decided to join ranks and serve as an exco member in the local club, with the name of one of the best known birds of prey. Wait a few juffies! A massive surprise awaited the brother at his first meeting with his new club. There was no one else, except the brother himself, who arrived with a pen and a bit of stationery.
Dear readers, that is the irony in our sporting fraternity as there seems to be no record of proceedings, neither any institutional memory on past deliberations. Such action allows the so-called exco and chairman to flaunt their constitution with impunity.
What is the use thereof if you cannot live it out? Then you can just as well have sideline discussions during a match in progress.
Meetings, as prescribed in the respective constitutions, are the lifeblood of any responsible sporting organisation.
Athletes, supporters, administrative staff, technical staff, referees and medical staff are all integral cogs in sport. When one of these components is neglected or overlooked, problems start. Obviously, each has to do their part to the best of their ability.
Not only would you have an optimum sport environment, but also one where everyone can excel. A servant will give and allow space for individuals to grow, a ruler will dictate and smother initiative and personal growth.
On a lighter note, congratulations to our Under-19 Cricket team, who carried themselves with pride and performed excellently at the just ended Cricket World Cup for Juniors.
My no holds barred colleague, Bra CK, could not let pass a chance to make a remark on the overall composition of the Namibian cricket side when the lily-white Namibian Under-19 Cricket team drew his attention. The straight-shooting scribe likened the young pale-skinned lads to a bunch of Australians with a smattering of Aboriginines! Well, I still do not know who is who!
Congratulations to Namibian sports icon Frankie Fredericks on his election as head of the Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Olympics. Another prophet not so much appreciated in his own native land, the Land of the Brave.
Finally, I have promised to really try and separate politics from sport. This is my Leap Year promise. What is yours? May we all contribute in a positive way and (myself included) heed my advice!
Ciao for now!