NFA set to scrap teams under same ownership

Namibia Football Association president Robert Shimooshili has revealed that the association will seek to ensure that no football clubs are operating under the same ownership playing in any divisions of leagues under NFA.

The president said this after pundits described the promotion of multiple uniformed forces’ teams playing in all league structures of the NFA as shambolic and problematic.

“Yes, we do understand the issue and as the national association, we will work on it but that will not be possible at the start of the upcoming season.

“The football clubs under the same ownership playing in leagues under our administration will have to be scrapped, leaving space for only one football club under that particular ownership.

“It is not only the teams from the forces, but you look at clubs that are under higher learning institutions such as NUST and Unam as well,” Shimooshili said.

As things stand, the NFA president could however not reveal how the process will be practically undertaken or the kind of approach they might take to ensure that the plan is put into action.

The rules and regulations that deny teams under the same leadership structure from playing in the same division or league have dragged on for years.

Namibia Correctional Services team that recently won the Southern Stream First Division did not gain promotion because Khomas Nampol which falls under the same employer or ownership is already part of the country’s top tier league.

The issue was however not well taken by the Correctional Services club, which unsuccessfully dragged the NFA to court. The court case was dismissed last week and the team will therefore not gain any promotion.

The NCS Football Club alleged that it is entitled to be promoted to the premier division under the promotion and relegation rules published by the NFA for the 2023-2024 season.

They argued that they and Blue Boys FC are bound by and have acceded to the rules of the NFA by their membership to the NFA Southern Stream First Division.

The fact that Khomas Nampol also plays in the Premier League, along with the NFA’s restriction preventing more than one club under the ownership of the same ministry from competing in the NPFL, prompted the association’s decision to award promotion to Swakopmund-based side Blue Boys, after they ended second behind NCS.

Pundits have not bashed the NFA for setting up the rules, but blame the organisation and the clubs involved for agreeing to let these teams compete, while knowing the chaos this situation can create.

“It is very difficult to say who is right or wrong in such a situation because I am sure that both the NFA and clubs involved are aware of these rules from the onset,” football follower Jefta Gaoab said.

“I mean, how do clubs even participate competitively knowing that even if they win their respective divisions, the possibility of them gaining promotion will likely be blocked?”

Gaoab says the fact that the teams under the same ownership are scattered through various lower leagues nationwide will remain problematic for the Football Association.

“It has to be said that many of these teams do exist. Therefore, this situation will continue to disrupt football if they are allowed to continue playing in these divisions.

“The football governing body has to seek amicable lasting solutions which will ensure that the same disruptions do not repeat itself,” Gaoab noted.

The issue of promotion and relegation of uniformed forces’ teams is not new, after Okahandja Military School FC was denied promotion to the Premier League in 2018 because previously the club was owned by the Namibian Defence Force, the same ownership as another NPL club, Mighty Gunners.