By: Uakutura Kambaekua
According to the Fifa Normalisation Committee chairman, Bisey Uirab, the NFA has a debt of over N$23 million, accumulated mostly over the past year and a half.
Uirab revealed this during a press conference earlier on Wednesday at the football house in Katutura.
The Fifa NC, which was appointed to address Namibian football impasses last month, also announced that it is en route to reviewing and revising several statuses in the soccer house on Wednesday.
The committee was appointed on 30 March 2022 and is led by Bisey Uirab (chairperson), Afra Schimming-Chase (deputy chairperson), Willy Mertens (member), Esmeralda Muhinatjo Katjaerua (member), and Diina Shituula (member).
“The annual funds received from Fifa and CAF are primarily for running the NFA office (i.e. pay for salaries and monthly office overheads). This funding is unfortunately insufficient for the above mentioned. Where the NFA meets certain criteria, we can apply for additional funding from Fifa and UEFA to cover specific projects,” Uirab said.
He also stated that the additional monies received from current sponsors cover only a fraction of national team expenses and specific competitions, such as the MTC sponsorship of the MTC NFA Cup.
“We will need to source additional funding from sponsors and government, should we wish to continue participating in international competitions,” stated Uirab, adding that NFA is in dire need of sponsorship for all its leagues and all activities from other activities departments.
Moreover, NFA reiterated that the organisational structure needs to align with the Football Association’s activities and the available funding, including the alignment of the current FA’s salary structure.
“There is a need to formalise national team and technical team contracts, including remuneration. Several policies and procedures need to be formulated and/or implemented.”
The committee further noted that the Namibia men’s senior national football team (Brave Warriors) has been drawn in Group C for the Afcon qualifiers alongside Cameroon, Burundi and Kenya.
“We are aware that Kenya is still under suspension, and their participation will be subject to confirmation from Fifa. The interim coach, Bobby Samaria, will continue to coach the senior men’s team for the first two scheduled matches. We are aware of the formal process last year to appoint substantive coaches for all our national teams,” noted Uirab.
He said that the committee is accordingly reviewing these matters and will inform the nation once they have decided on the appointment of national team coaches and technical staff.
The current Fifa normalisation committee is the second one in less than four years. It replaced the expelled Ranga Haikali-led executive committee that comprised Nettie Cloete, Ingy Hainghumbi, Peter Ndjulu, Ferdinand Hausiku, Shali Amakali and Earnest Joy, as well as Kenneth Goaseb.
NFA’s former SG Franco Cosmos, who had been at loggerheads with Haikali, was dismissed last month after being found guilty on five counts out of nine.
Namibia’s national team will play their first home game on 4 June 2022 in Johannesburg, South Africa, against Burundi.
Coach Samaria is expected to call his squad soon, which will retain some of the players involved in last year’s fixtures, amongst those, Kamaijanda Ndisiro, Loydt Kazapua, Mbemutjiua Mata and Virgil Vries as goalkeepers, while England based Ryan Nyambe who plies his trade for Blackburn Rovers might also get a recall alongside South African-based players Riaan Hanamub, Ivan Kamberipa, Larry Horaeb, Kennedy Amutenya, Lubeni Haukongo in defence with Riddick Gariseb, Aprocius Petrus, Charles Hambira and Immanuel Heita.
The team is also expected to utilise the service veteran midfielders in the name of Denzil Haoseb, Dynamo Fredericks, Alfeus Handura, Deon Hotto, Absalom Iimbondi, Wesley Katjiteo, Wendell Rudath, Marcel Papama, Prins Tjiueza, Obrey Amseb and Willy Stephanus, while Elmo Kambindu, Peter Shalulile, and Joslin Kamatuka are expected to fixture in the attack.
