Hockey Union clears Short of racism

THE Namibia Hockey Union (NHU) has cleared Maryke Short of racism or discrimination following an internal investigation into the affair.

It added that the affair had been extremely damaging to hockey in Namibia and that future tours to Zimbabwe would be reconsidered due to serious threats that had been made against Namibian hockey teams due to tour there.

In a press statement issued on Thursday, the NHU said it had launched an immediate investigation into the affair after Ruth Herunga had issued a grievance report with the Namibia Sport Commission (NSC) following the exclusion of her daughter, Liya, from a Namibian u16 team due to tour Zimbabwe.

“The news of the allegations that Liya was dropped or excluded from the Zimbabwe tour came as a surprise to the NHU since Liya was promoted with two other u16 girls to the u18 girls team. The u18 girls team was short of players as a result of withdrawals due to exams and other school responsibilities. According to the coach, Liya was promoted into a specific playing position because Short felt that Liya was mature enough to play for the u18 team. Her inclusion into the u18 team was also discussed with the player by the coach,” the NHU stated.

It said that only one u16 team had been signed off by the NHU, which did not include Liya’s name, since she was already in the u18 team. The u18 tour was, however, postponed to November, after a request by the Zimbabwe Hockey Association, and it was decided to re-introduce the three u16 girls into the u16 team.

“On 17 August, Liya was invited to practise with the u16 team and a new team list was compiled for signing off by the NHU,” it said, adding that further allegations by the Namibia School Sport Union (NSSU) into unfair treatment by Short were investigated, but that no substantial evidence of unfair treatment or racism could be established.

“The allegations included that Liya did not have enough game time on the Bloemfontein tour, which seems to have led to the racism allegations. These allegations seem to be unfounded since the time sheets received from the tournament indicated that Liya played a total of 70% of the time out of a total of 16 players. Analysis of the time sheets revealed that Liya had the seventh most game time out of the 16 players,” the NHU said.

It added that it had asked the NSSU for a full investigation but that no response from them had been received. It also quoted the u16 team manager, Ester Shafashike as saying, “In conclusion, I would like to say this was a good trip and we had fun during our stay in Bloemfontein.”

The NHU added that further investigations by the NHU athletes representative, Magreth Mengo, had ‘failed to establish any acts of racism, discrimination or ill-treatment of any players coached by Ms Short.’

The NHU said that Short was asked to step down as the u16 team coach following a request by the NSC and that Mengo had been temporarily appointed as the u16 coach pending the outcome of the investigation.

It added that the Hockey Association of Zimbabwe had ‘reluctantly and with expression of disappointment’ agreed to postpone the entire u16 and u18 boys and girls tour to the end of November or early next year.

“Comments made by Ms Herunga over social media were extremely damaging to the sport and brought the name of the game into disrepute, which is seen in a very serious light and the matter will be further pursued,” the NHU stated.

“Future hockey tours to Zimbabwe will be reconsidered, since serious threats were received from Zimbabwe against hockey teams taking part in Zimbabwe, which are the result of irresponsible, emotional and unfounded allegations and outcries over social media,” it added.

The chief administrator of the NSC, Fred Mwiya meanwhile said their investigation into the matter was ongoing and that they would make a statement in about two weeks’ time.