Gaoab takes aim at NFA administration

Outspoken football enthusiast Jefta Gaoab has once again lashed out at the Namibia Football Administration (NFA), accusing them of failing to apply their own rules and regulations when it comes to operational matters.Gaoab reiterated the NFA’s responsibility for organising and promoting football activities nationwide.He added that the association is mandated to ensure that football is played in accordance with its rules, regulations, and statutes.“These must, however, remain subordinate to those of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), which holds ultimate authority.“In general, the NFA has demonstrated a concerning inability to consistently and effectively interpret and apply its own statutes, rules, and regulations.“This ongoing failure undermines both the credibility of the institution and the integrity of football governance in the country,” Gaoab said.Gaoab made these remarks in the wake of the promotion and relegation play-offs in various leagues administered by the football association.He alleges, however, that these play-offs are overshadowed by concerns, claiming that the NFA, which is entrusted with upholding fair and transparent governance, appears to be acting contrary to that mandate.“To qualify my sentiments, as a passionate football enthusiast, I raised a pertinent issue regarding the general inconsistencies in interpreting and applying the rules governing the promotion and relegation of clubs across the various NFA leagues in August 2024.“To date, I have received neither a response nor an acknowledgement,” he noted.Gaoab further claims he initially addressed his concerns in a letter to the late NFA secretary-general Charles Siyauya, highlighting the inconsistencies and non-compliance with the association’s own rules, regulations, and statutes.His claims apparently fell on deaf ears, as he did not receive any response regarding the queries he raised.“On a separate occasion, I also wrote to the NFA Executive Council via the former secretary-general, but the council similarly failed to respond.”His concerns stem from how the NFA handled the procedures and criteria for promoting and relegating teams during the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 football seasons, particularly within the North West Stream First Division (NWSFD) and the teams promoted from the regional divisions within the same jurisdiction.“What unfolded was nothing short of chaos, teams that were supposed to be relegated were not, and the process was marred by questionable tactics and so-called internal arrangements at Football House.“These actions took place with the full knowledge of those in charge, at the direct expense of the sport’s integrity.“Aggrieved member clubs raised their concerns in writing to the then secretary-general’s office, but received no concrete response, only vague and off-point replies based on internal arrangements and gut feeling, rather than the association’s own rules and regulations.”Now, with the current season having come full circle and promotion and relegation play-offs looming nearly a year later, Gaoab insists that the grievances of affected clubs remain unresolved.“The question remains, will internal arrangements once again override the rules, regulations, and statutes that are meant to govern the association and its member leagues?“With no football club relegated from the Namibia Football Premier League (NPFL) to the North West Stream First Division (NWSFD) for the 2024/2025 season, I eagerly await to see how the authorities, or those in power, will position themselves and whether favours will once again be extended to their cronies.”Gaoab cited the 2021/2022 season as the only instance in which the NFA allegedly correctly interpreted and applied the rules governing the promotion and relegation of clubs between its various leagues.“To date, the Namibia Sports Commission remains inactive, seemingly with its hands folded, despite several engagements and letters submitted for its consideration.“One is left to wonder, do they truly understand their mandate and the responsibilities entrusted to them in situations like this? Only they can answer – if they ever will.”Sport Wrap did not receive a response from the NFA before this newspaper went to print.

Gaoab takes aim at NFA administration

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Gaoab takes aim at NFA administration

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