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THE MADNESS FOLLOWS FOOTBALL…FREDERICKS SAYS FIFA CAN DISSOLVE THE ASSOCIATION

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

By: Andrew Kathindi

Namibia Football Association vice president Isaak Fredricks says that he sees no end to a long-lasting feud that has estranged him and NFA president Ranga Haikali.

This comes as the world governing football body Fifa wrote the NFA on Thursday, 7 October, reminding them to sort out their internal issues. He said that Fifa should instead dissolve the executive committee.

“I don’t see any light at the end of this tunnel. If I may be honest, let Fifa just come in and dissolve us. Under the leadership of Ranga Haikali, it’s a huge challenge. We are almost two years in leadership, and there’s no blueprint, not even a strategic plan that we can measure ourselves,” Fredricks told The Villager.

Fredricks said he has not been on speaking terms with Haikali for the entire year.

The vice president said they were aware of Fifa’s latest letter but did not change their position.

“That is Fifa’s stance, but our stance remains the same. We should have a legal platform to withdraw these allegations because it was a legal platform where we took these resolutions to be implemented. What Fifa is trying to do is override our legal platform, which for us is not acceptable.”

Haikali was suspended in August by NFA Vice President Isak Fredricks for allegedly using the football association to seal contracts for companies in which he has an interest.

Haikali also accused NFA Secretary-General Franco Cosmos of corruption and suspended him. Fredricks said the NFA does not recognise Haikali’s suspension of Cosmos.

“If he continues with that, then I see no purpose in reconciliation.”

A meeting was scheduled for 1-2 October by Haikali to try and resolve. Still, according to Fredricks, it did not happen as Haikali remains suspended and has no mandate to call for a meeting.

Fifa reiterated that it does not recognise Haikaili’s suspension.

“In this respect, we would like to point out once again that we are not in a position to recognise the decision as mentioned above, which we consider invalid. In addition, we would like to highlight our disappointment and serious concerns regarding the overall direction taken by the NFA lately, especially for a FIFA member association which only came out of a normalisation phase in 2020,” said Fifa’s Chief Member Associations Officer, Kenny Jean-Marie.

“Therefore, we reiterate our position to see the NFA executives and administrative officers under the leadership of its President, Mr Ranga Haikali, swiftly move forward and work together again for the good of Namibian football.”

Haikali said he is planning another meeting, but it will be without Cosmos.

“He is on suspension. He should leave the office now and face his disciplinary hearing. The rest will fall in place,” he said.

Julia Heita

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