CAF faces NFA litmus test
Ranga Haikali’s voting rights at Cosafa, CAF and FIFA congresses could save his job, while the association’s progressive forces played open cards to win the hearts of the travelling CAF delegation.
JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA
WINDHOEK
While Confederation of African Football (CAF) secretary-general Veron Mosengo-Omba’s impromptu visit to Namibia drew mixed reactions, there is still no clear roadmap regarding the future of football in the country.
Mosengo-Omba notably came on a fact-finding mission which involved attempts to strike a truce deal between the two NFA factions.
Namibian Sun understands the secretary-general implored NFA executive committee members to drop plans to hold an extraordinary NFA congress next week.
According to sources who attended Tuesday’s meeting, there was consensus that football should start in the country; however, differences regarding the composition of the NFA executive committee still persisted.
The crunch meeting is said to have been dominated by the so-called ‘Progressive Forces’, which include member clubs of the Namibia Premier Football League, with insiders suggesting that Haikali’s faction was outnumbered.
Haikali, who also had a separate closed-door meeting with Mosengo-Omba, said he was not in a position to disclose the details of their discussion.
“To be honest with you, I do not know what is going to happen next and I will not be able to tell you what our discussion was about,” Haikali said.
It is understood that Mosengo-Omba also met other stakeholders, including the sport ministry, before departing to South Africa yesterday to meet CAF president Patrice Motsepe. He is expected to brief Motsepe regarding the football affairs of Namibia.
Progressive forces
Insiders said the Progressive Forces’ plan to hold the extraordinary congress remains in motion and they remain hopeful that the CAF leadership will remain neutral in the matter.
There are fears that with several CAF regional elections coming up, as well as elections on the FIFA calendar, CAF might want to keep Haikali in order to canvass votes for FIFA president Gianni Infantino in the next elections.
“Yes, the CAF SG called for peace and told us that the congress must be the last resort but we have our minds already made up and want a new executive.
“There are possibilities that CAF could side with Haikali because there are elections coming up and they might feel the need to have backing from the association’s president.
“I believe a guy like France Mbidi is also behind there pushing for Haikali’s survival because he will need support on the Cosafa elections,” the source said.
“The good thing is that Veron identified us, the Progressive Forces, and actually even said that such groups exist and we are not even a third force.
Ambush tactics
Members of the regions backing Haikali said the meeting between the Progressive Forces and Mosengo-Omba was deliberately arranged to seemingly provide an exposure platform for the Progressive Forces.
“This was a clear ambush because we only got the meeting request at the eleventh hour and not all could make it in time.
“What surprised me is the number of NPFL club members who were present at the event, while many of those that are perceived to be in support of Haikali were not allowed the liberty to travel timeously.
“The good thing is that we know that Mosengo-Omba or Motsepe will clearly not support groups or factions but the legitimate president of the NFA,” the source said.
“Some of the regions have joined us now; I feel we could have a strong delegation at congress to stop the progressive forces plans.”
Haikali’s faction also raised suspicion about the hurried congress even though the allegations of corruption against him have not been finalised.
WINDHOEK
While Confederation of African Football (CAF) secretary-general Veron Mosengo-Omba’s impromptu visit to Namibia drew mixed reactions, there is still no clear roadmap regarding the future of football in the country.
Mosengo-Omba notably came on a fact-finding mission which involved attempts to strike a truce deal between the two NFA factions.
Namibian Sun understands the secretary-general implored NFA executive committee members to drop plans to hold an extraordinary NFA congress next week.
According to sources who attended Tuesday’s meeting, there was consensus that football should start in the country; however, differences regarding the composition of the NFA executive committee still persisted.
The crunch meeting is said to have been dominated by the so-called ‘Progressive Forces’, which include member clubs of the Namibia Premier Football League, with insiders suggesting that Haikali’s faction was outnumbered.
Haikali, who also had a separate closed-door meeting with Mosengo-Omba, said he was not in a position to disclose the details of their discussion.
“To be honest with you, I do not know what is going to happen next and I will not be able to tell you what our discussion was about,” Haikali said.
It is understood that Mosengo-Omba also met other stakeholders, including the sport ministry, before departing to South Africa yesterday to meet CAF president Patrice Motsepe. He is expected to brief Motsepe regarding the football affairs of Namibia.
Progressive forces
Insiders said the Progressive Forces’ plan to hold the extraordinary congress remains in motion and they remain hopeful that the CAF leadership will remain neutral in the matter.
There are fears that with several CAF regional elections coming up, as well as elections on the FIFA calendar, CAF might want to keep Haikali in order to canvass votes for FIFA president Gianni Infantino in the next elections.
“Yes, the CAF SG called for peace and told us that the congress must be the last resort but we have our minds already made up and want a new executive.
“There are possibilities that CAF could side with Haikali because there are elections coming up and they might feel the need to have backing from the association’s president.
“I believe a guy like France Mbidi is also behind there pushing for Haikali’s survival because he will need support on the Cosafa elections,” the source said.
“The good thing is that Veron identified us, the Progressive Forces, and actually even said that such groups exist and we are not even a third force.
Ambush tactics
Members of the regions backing Haikali said the meeting between the Progressive Forces and Mosengo-Omba was deliberately arranged to seemingly provide an exposure platform for the Progressive Forces.
“This was a clear ambush because we only got the meeting request at the eleventh hour and not all could make it in time.
“What surprised me is the number of NPFL club members who were present at the event, while many of those that are perceived to be in support of Haikali were not allowed the liberty to travel timeously.
“The good thing is that we know that Mosengo-Omba or Motsepe will clearly not support groups or factions but the legitimate president of the NFA,” the source said.
“Some of the regions have joined us now; I feel we could have a strong delegation at congress to stop the progressive forces plans.”
Haikali’s faction also raised suspicion about the hurried congress even though the allegations of corruption against him have not been finalised.
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