Put your house in order
On 12 May, something extraordinary happened. Fans started arriving at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek a few hours before dawn for a match with a mid-afternoon start. The stadium was effectively at its capacity a full five hours before kick-off, reads an article.
Just outside the Namibia Football Association building in Windhoek stands the statue of the greatest footballer who ever lived. His name: Rudie Swartbooi.
His hair in cornrows just as it was when he energised the Brave Warriors midfield in the early '90s, the statue stands facing the entrance to the Katutura suburb. Another statement reads. Where? You ask, never!
These statements are both untrue. There will never be statements which read like that and there will never be a statue erected for any footballer in Namibia praising his or her talents locally or internationally as long as I breathe.
Why? Ask the NFA: The so-called governing body and custodians of football in the country. The very organisation which is supposed to make sure that football is promoted at grassroots and national level. The very organisation that is supposed to disburse money received from FIFA and any other sponsor who wants to uplift the game many love.
But instead of doing any of that the Namibia Football Association is fending off a barrage of criticism for their absurd decisions in the corridors of NFA lately. Do they care to publicly defend themselves? No. Do they engage anyone to set the record straight? No. What do they do? The wait for journalist to call and coerce them into informing football lovers about the happenings behind closed doors.
Confusion and frustration, I tell you. Players are suffering; the very people who have given you jobs to fulfil are unable to support themselves because of unnecessary feuds. The men and women who we are supposed to help and elevate to become great sport stars are sitting at home while politics for the belly goes on. The women's league hasn't started despite the fact that FIFA sends billions to Namibia to aid the women's game. Where is the 15% of money which is supposed to aid the league? If my sources are wrong and the money was distributed accordingly I will apologise for having it wrong. Otherwise, where is the money?
Tell me, how much assistance does NFA get from GIZ, FIFA and the United Nations Children's Fund? Yet still they are unable to meet them halfway. GIZ has started rehabilitating sports facilities in the country: NFA's job. Unicef sponsors the Galz and Goals programme. Yet again, NFA's job: So the question is: “NFA, what is your role in the football fraternity, please, with all due respect?”
When has the chairperson of NFA ever written a letter or announced to the public what is happening in local football without being coerced to do so? There is too much infighting with different factions out to destroy and eliminate each other. It's like watching one of those Vikings series.
Also, minister of sport, youth and national service, help us to help you. Call your subordinates to order.
Also, while we are at it, keeping journalist guessing as to what is happening behind closed doors about a matter which concerns everyone is total disrespect for everyone who enjoys the game. Blaming people for our incompetence should stop and if there is someone, anyone, who has anything to say to another, please we will accord you the platform to do so, just let us know.
[email protected]
Just outside the Namibia Football Association building in Windhoek stands the statue of the greatest footballer who ever lived. His name: Rudie Swartbooi.
His hair in cornrows just as it was when he energised the Brave Warriors midfield in the early '90s, the statue stands facing the entrance to the Katutura suburb. Another statement reads. Where? You ask, never!
These statements are both untrue. There will never be statements which read like that and there will never be a statue erected for any footballer in Namibia praising his or her talents locally or internationally as long as I breathe.
Why? Ask the NFA: The so-called governing body and custodians of football in the country. The very organisation which is supposed to make sure that football is promoted at grassroots and national level. The very organisation that is supposed to disburse money received from FIFA and any other sponsor who wants to uplift the game many love.
But instead of doing any of that the Namibia Football Association is fending off a barrage of criticism for their absurd decisions in the corridors of NFA lately. Do they care to publicly defend themselves? No. Do they engage anyone to set the record straight? No. What do they do? The wait for journalist to call and coerce them into informing football lovers about the happenings behind closed doors.
Confusion and frustration, I tell you. Players are suffering; the very people who have given you jobs to fulfil are unable to support themselves because of unnecessary feuds. The men and women who we are supposed to help and elevate to become great sport stars are sitting at home while politics for the belly goes on. The women's league hasn't started despite the fact that FIFA sends billions to Namibia to aid the women's game. Where is the 15% of money which is supposed to aid the league? If my sources are wrong and the money was distributed accordingly I will apologise for having it wrong. Otherwise, where is the money?
Tell me, how much assistance does NFA get from GIZ, FIFA and the United Nations Children's Fund? Yet still they are unable to meet them halfway. GIZ has started rehabilitating sports facilities in the country: NFA's job. Unicef sponsors the Galz and Goals programme. Yet again, NFA's job: So the question is: “NFA, what is your role in the football fraternity, please, with all due respect?”
When has the chairperson of NFA ever written a letter or announced to the public what is happening in local football without being coerced to do so? There is too much infighting with different factions out to destroy and eliminate each other. It's like watching one of those Vikings series.
Also, minister of sport, youth and national service, help us to help you. Call your subordinates to order.
Also, while we are at it, keeping journalist guessing as to what is happening behind closed doors about a matter which concerns everyone is total disrespect for everyone who enjoys the game. Blaming people for our incompetence should stop and if there is someone, anyone, who has anything to say to another, please we will accord you the platform to do so, just let us know.
[email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article