Interim Committee takes over Khomas Region

Lazarus Xoagub will lead an interim committee which has been appointed to steer the Khomas Football Region out of its current malaise.

At an elective meeting on 7 October, Xoagub was elected as chairperson of an interim committee, which has been tasked with overseeing the affairs of the Khomas Football Region until a new executive committee has been democratically elected.

The rest of the interim committee consists of ordinary members Pascal Haingura and Riaan Kandanga; head of operations, Imms Boois; and head of finances, Waldheim Tjitunga.

The election of the new interim committee follows a long battle with the former executive committee, headed by Peter Ndjulu, after numerous challenges were experienced by club members, including financial mismanagement, a lack of transparency and the failure to convene a members meeting, to address critical issues affecting the region.

After receiving approval from the NFA, Khomas second division clubs held an extraordinary annual general meeting (EOAGM) on 30 September, where the previous excom was removed following a vote of no confidence.

“For several months, the club representatives, acting as the voice of concerned members within the Khomas Football Region, have consistently and persistently reached out to the then executive committee,” the interim committee stated in a report on 7 October, detailing the events that led to the EOAGM. 

“Their communications aimed to secure accountability for missing funds, ensure the timely disbursement of funds owed to clubs, and organise a members’ meeting to adress these pressing concerns. Regrettably these appeals were met with a disheartening silence and inaction from the then Khomas Football Region exco,” the report added. 

Frustrated by the lack of progress, frustrated club members turned to the NFA for intervention and after more stonewalling it was eventually decided to hold an EOAGM on 30 September. 

According to the interim committee’s report, the EOAGM proceeded on 30 September when Ndjulu and the previous excom declined to present the chairman’s overview and financial report, citing that the meeting was unconstitutional. Their claim, however, was not corraborated by the facts, as the members acted within the Khomas Football Region’s statutes, and they went ahead with the vote of no confidence, with eight out of 12 members supporting the motion. 

The former excom was subsequently dissolved, and replaced by the interim committee at a follow-up meeting on 7 October. 

The mandate of the interim committee will now include some of the following aspects:

The organisation of the Khomas Football Region’s elective congress; arranging a full financial audit of the KFR; organising the start of the new league season and drafting a league budget; claiming equipment, office keys and access to bank accounts of the KFR; and normalising the KFR’s affairs, amongst others.

Xoagub said he didn’t want to gloat and that a lot of work lay ahead. 

“I don’t see it as a victory as such, it’s just a normal feeling, but now we have to implement our mandate to do the right thing for football. Our main priority will be to build a foundation for future generations and we must ensure that football grows in the region,” he said.

“Khomas football needs healthy administration and harmony with the NFA so that football can grow and we will need substantive leadership for that,” he added.

The interim committee has already been endorsed by the NFA, with Xoagub and Tjitunga attending the motherbody’s extraordinary congress last Saturday, while Xoagub said they are hard at work, preparing a roadmap for the NFA.

“We already had a meeting on Monday when we came up with a working document and a roadmap that we will submit to the NFA’s league director. We will have a follow-up meeting with our members on Thursday evening when we will update them on what needs to be done to get the league up and running again – we plan to do so within two to three months,” he said. 

The teams that will compete in the Khomas Second Division this month are as follows:

Atlantic FC, Nust, Afrika Rassap, Young Generations, Impala Chiefs, SKW FC, Swallows FA, Namib Colts, Patriots FC, Namib Eagles FC, Kingston FC, Rockstone FC, Falcon FC, Katutura Sports Club and City Boys FC.