NFA to request more information on Rukoro’s suspension

WINDHOEK, 12 APR  – The Namibia Football Association (NFA) will seek more information on the suspension of its Secretary General, Barry Rukoro by the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) on 01 October.
Cosafa suspended Rukoro for 90 days, pending an investigation into allegations of gross misconduct in relation to his reported attack on Cosafa President Philip Chiyangwa on 16 February 2018 in South Africa.
NFA President Frans Mbidi said at a media conference at Football House on Thursday they will seek clarity on the nature of the charges levelled against Rukoro for the regional body.
“An emergency committee meeting today (Thursday) met and resolved to seek additional information on Rukoro’s suspension from Cosafa as we feel that the information provided to us is insufficient,” he said.
He added that they will seek legal opinion on the issue, before a full executive meeting on 28 April 2018 in Omuthiya to discuss the issue and find the way forward.
Mbidi said the emergency committee met to discuss the issues currently affecting NFA, which includes the non-renewal of Rukoro’s contract and the mooting of a vote of no confidence on him by the executive committee.
At the same emergency committee meeting, Mbidi announced that Rukoro’s employment contract was extended to 28 April by the emergency committee.
A decision will be made by the full NFA executive committee meeting on 28 April.
As recent as 06 April, Mbidi had been adamant that Rukoro’s contract will not be renewed when it expires at the end of March, while the executive committee asked the secretary general to stay put until the issue has been addressed by the full executive committee.
The NFA president said they will also be seeking legal clarification on Rukoro’s contract so as to avoid being caught offside with regards to the matter.
Responding to rumours that he had played an active role in the suspension of Rukoro, Mbidi denied the accusations, saying he had no influence on the issue at Cosafa, despite him being vice president of the regional body.
“Rumours and rumour mongers will always be there. At no stage did I ever mention that I will use my position to influence decisions like this at Cosafa. I will never stoop that low,” he said.
Mbidi said decisions made at the emergency committee meeting were collective and binding.
The NFA Emergency Committee consist of Mbidi as chairperson, first vice president Naftal Ngalangi and second vice president Ludwig Crooks Nunuheb.

NAMPA