NAFPU case thrown out Kahiriri sees red The case between Namibia Football Association and Namibia Football players union has been dismissed Namibia Football Players Union (NAFPU) secretary-general is angry about the judge''s decision. The Namibia Labour Commission on Friday dismissed the case of the Namibia Football Players Union (NAFPU) against the Namibia Football Association with regard to the outstanding case of players'' salaries and jurisdiction of the labour Commission on the matter.
Commissioner Nicolas Mouers, presiding over the arbitration case on Friday, ruled that the players'' union request to engage the NFA in relations to players'' outstanding payments by their clubs was irregular and unprocedural.
Commissioner Mouers, handing down the judgment said “I''m not satisfied that the mere affirmation of recognition of the applicant (NAFPU) by the respondent (NFA) as the only bargaining agent in football under the respondent''s jurisdiction warrants the existence of an employer/employee relationship between the applicant and the respondent.”
He added that the employee/employer relations exist only between NAFPU and the respective Namibia Premier leagues clubs, whom the players ply their trade for.
“Based on the findings on the first preliminary issue, I thus find it irregular and unprocedural to rule a finding on the remaining two issues, namely the position of the NAFPU in Namibian Football and the legal standing of the National Executive Committee of NAFPU. This would result in bestowing upon myself jurisdictional authority which I do not posses. Thus the matter is accordingly dismissed,” Mouers said.
NFA President Frans Mbidi says that he hopes NAFPU will take heed and truly represent their members'' interest in accordance with all the procedures available.
“It is unfortunate that we had to go this route with them, but today the legitimacy of their case is dismissed and we urge them to now consider the right platforms for the benefit of the players,” Mbidi said.
NFA Secretary-General, Barry Rukoro, added: “The matter has served as a learning curve for all of us and we hope the game will emerge stronger and united from this debacle”.
SPORTS REPORTER