Black Africa factions battle it out in court

The High Court was recently involved in an ongoing tug-of-war between two arguing factions in popular Black Africa Sports Club, over who the legitimate leaders of the club are. This after football matches were disrupted in November and December last year when two Black Africa teams turned up to play. This was the beginning of Namibia’s second league, the Southern Stream First Division (SSFD).The situation got so out of hand that the Namibian Police had to be called in to prevent possible violence.Okeri Mbingeneeko, who claims to be the legitimate chairman of the club’s executive committee, filed an affidavit at the Windhoek High Court in an urgent application brought by Black Africa against the members of the other executive committee: Thomas Adams, Sylvester Goraseb, Dralli Titus, Willie Anton van Wyk and Helmuth Hochobeb.Other respondents include that faction’s manager, Sakaria Mulumba, and its players. Mbingeneeko claimed the respondents illegally used the name ‘Black Africa’.Parties appeared before Judge Herman Oosthuizen on Tuesday and the case was adjourned until yesterday for further pre-trial proceedings. Parties are, however, scheduled to argue their cases on 29 January.RelegatedBlack Africa played in Namibia&#039;s premier league for many years, and has been crowned victorious several times.However, the team performed so poorly in the 2022-2023 season that it was relegated to a lower league.In his statement, Mbingeneeko said Black Africa paid its fees to participate in the SSFD league for the coming season, but was shocked to see another Black Africa team run onto the pitch at its first match on 25 November 2023."The other players were not Black Africa, but a team called Africa United. Africa United was never a member of the Namibian Football Association [NFA] or the SSFD and its players were simply recruited by &#039;Black Africa&#039; to be able to play."They were also not wearing the characteristic Black Africa uniform - their uniforms were hastily bought from a shop in Chinatown.”This match, against Latinos Football Club, could not start as there were too many players on the field. Some supporters became restless and ran onto the pitch, and the police were called in to bring the situation under control.As a result, the game was postponed indefinitely, and two more games were apparently postponed as well.On 9 and 10 December, two teams are said to have arrived again for Black Africa matches.Lies and fraudAdams submitted an answering statement to the court and, in it, he claimed he is Black Africa&#039;s acting chairman.He further argued that Mbingeneeko is falsely presenting himself as the chairman.Adams claimed there has always been only one Black Africa Sports Club, since 7 November 2020, and that his faction has always been in control of Black Africa&#039;s affairs.“It is argued that [Mbingeneeko] brought before this court a case based on lies and fraud. He is not even prepared to take the court into his confidence, [as he has been] withholding important and material facts from the court," Adams said.According to him, the SSFD decided not to recognise the other faction’s allegedly illegal annual general meeting, held on 8 July 2023, and decided to withhold players&#039; licences, which the other faction believes to be illegally registered with the NFA."As a result of these shenanigans, the SSFD provisionally suspended [the team] from the league and it was also charged with misconduct for disrupting the league and failure to attend officially scheduled matches."

Black Africa factions battle it out in court

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-18

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Black Africa factions battle it out in court

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-18

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