Zebaldt Ngaruka 

The chairperson of Okahandja United FC, Johannes Congo Hindjou, says the club is unhappy with the decision taken by the Namibia Football Association (NFA) to replay the abandoned match against Young African FC. 

According to Hindjou, the match was abandoned following an incident in which a person associated with Young African entered the field of play and was involved in a physical altercation on 23 November 2025. 

Okahandja United was leading the match 1–0 after scoring in the 16th minute. 

The NFA has since scheduled the replay for 28 March 2026, ordering that the match restart from the beginning. The earlier goal has been nullified, while cautions issued to players during the match will remain in effect, despite the game being abandoned after 53 minutes. 

The decision has angered Okahandja United, prompting the club to lodge a formal complaint and request the football authority to remove the fixture from the match programme until the matter is resolved. 

“We are not happy with the decision at all. We are going to challenge it and the replay must not stand pending the determination of the disciplinary complaint we have lodged,” said Hindjou. 

Hindjou further criticised the NFA for failing to engage the club before making the decision. 

“We were the hosting team but never received any communication from the authority regarding the issue. This is very strange and one wonders how they came to such a conclusion,” he said. 

The match was abandoned in the 53rd minute, after which the league authority issued an administrative directive ordering a replay. According to Hindjou, the directive appears to rely on Rule 13.12 of the NFA rules and regulations relating to matches abandoned due to unsuitable playing conditions. 

However, Hindjou argued that available information suggests the abandonment may have been caused by misconduct from Young African. 

“Such conduct constitutes misconduct capable of causing the match to be stopped halfway in terms of the NFA disciplinary framework,” he said. 

The club subsequently lodged a formal complaint under Rule 57.1 of the NFA rules and regulations concerning the circumstances that led to the abandonment. 

“We demand that the matter be investigated by the appropriate disciplinary authorities of the association. Determining whether misconduct caused the abandonment is a matter that falls within the jurisdiction of the disciplinary structures of the NFA,” Hindjou said. 

He added that proceeding with the replay while a disciplinary complaint is pending could prejudice the parties involved and undermine the integrity of the process. 

Referee general coordinator Usuta Kasenda confirmed in his report that the incident occurred in the 53rd minute when an Okahandja United player was recklessly tackled by a Young African player and required medical attention. 

The delay in treatment caused commotion among supporters and officials, during which Young African head coach Maleagi Ngarizemo allegedly entered the technical area and physically confronted the fourth official, leading to the match being abandoned due to safety concerns. Attempts to obtain comment from the NFA were unsuccessful. 

-zngaruka@yahoo.com