Van Wyk is new NPL chairman

FORMER Black Africa Team Manager Anton van Wyk was elected as the new chairman of the Namibia Premier League (NPL) at an Extra Ordinary meeting at Walvis Bay on Saturday, replacing interim chairman Eliphas Shipanga.

Van Wyk got nominations from both Black Africa and Liverpool and was seconded by Eleven Arrows to the position. Van Wyk was the only candidate with a secondment, after Black Africa chairman Boni Paulino and Mbakumua Hengari of African Stars were not backed, despite being nominated.Hengari was nominated by his team to stand for the position, while Paulino was given the nod by Tigers.Tigers however withdrew with their nomination of Paulino just before the meeting, citing ‘double standards’ in Paulino, who instead nominated Van Wyk to the post.Shipanga who was in charge of the domestic football body in an acting capacity for close to a year now, was not nominated by his club.Sources who attended the meeting said Shipanga was disappointed as he handed over the reins to Van Wyk, charging that his team Blue Waters has shown a vote of no confidence in nominating him to the position.Van Wyk has been part of the NPL as a member of the Board of Governors.He will be serving for two years in the hot seat.He follows Mario Carreira as a duly elected chairman of the league.Shipanga as an interim chairman was instrumental of successfully bringing to a close a conflict between the NPL and the Namibia Football Association (NFA), after the latter wanted to ‘get rid’ the NPL leadership after NFA president Petrus Damaseb called them ‘anarchists.’ Shipanga, proven as a sound administrator and having vast knowledgeable on the game, also managed to secure funding to pay firing fees of stadiums.This has lessen the financial burden on premier league teams that are currently trying to make ends meet, especially when playing away from home.The meeting on Saturday also approved the financial statements of the league, while the members of the 14 clubs which were present, also looked into ways of turning the league into a semi-professional one.At least N$102 000 will be needed for football experts to come up with viable ideas and to kick-start a semi-professional league.The members also decided that an Ordinary Congress be held on August 14 to further brain-storm on setting up a semi-professional league.The meeting was attended by 14 clubs, except African Stars and Benfica who did not send any representatives.Hengari, who was nominated did also not attend the meeting.The NPL consist of 16 teams and at least two representatives of each team were supposed to attend the meeting.Van Wyk was the only candidate with a secondment, after Black Africa chairman Boni Paulino and Mbakumua Hengari of African Stars were not backed, despite being nominated.Hengari was nominated by his team to stand for the position, while Paulino was given the nod by Tigers.Tigers however withdrew with their nomination of Paulino just before the meeting, citing ‘double standards’ in Paulino, who instead nominated Van Wyk to the post.Shipanga who was in charge of the domestic football body in an acting capacity for close to a year now, was not nominated by his club.Sources who attended the meeting said Shipanga was disappointed as he handed over the reins to Van Wyk, charging that his team Blue Waters has shown a vote of no confidence in nominating him to the position.Van Wyk has been part of the NPL as a member of the Board of Governors.He will be serving for two years in the hot seat.He follows Mario Carreira as a duly elected chairman of the league.Shipanga as an interim chairman was instrumental of successfully bringing to a close a conflict between the NPL and the Namibia Football Association (NFA), after the latter wanted to ‘get rid’ the NPL leadership after NFA president Petrus Damaseb called them ‘anarchists.’ Shipanga, proven as a sound administrator and having vast knowledgeable on the game, also managed to secure funding to pay firing fees of stadiums.This has lessen the financial burden on premier league teams that are currently trying to make ends meet, especially when playing away from home.The meeting on Saturday also approved the financial statements of the league, while the members of the 14 clubs which were present, also looked into ways of turning the league into a semi-professional one.At least N$102 000 will be needed for football experts to come up with viable ideas and to kick-start a semi-professional league.The members also decided that an Ordinary Congress be held on August 14 to further brain-storm on setting up a semi-professional league.The meeting was attended by 14 clubs, except African Stars and Benfica who did not send any representatives.Hengari, who was nominated did also not attend the meeting.The NPL consist of 16 teams and at least two representatives of each team were supposed to attend the meeting.