Broken dreams at NCS

The Namibia Correctional Service (NCS) strategy of employing footballers to represent them in the country's top-flight league has taken a detour after their fall-out behind the scenes with Young African FC.

Former Young African FC coach Augustinus Mukoya says parting ways with the club after an ownership disagreement has affected many of the affected squad badly.

Mukoya, who is a correctional officer in Mariental, is part of the group that had to abandon the Young African Club after team owner Marley Ngarizemo re-assumed full rights of the football club.

The split happened just before the football club was due to play in the MTC Maris Cup semi-finals at Mariental two weekends ago.

“I can tell you now that we were affected by this as coaches and the players that belong to the NCS also suffered after the ties between us and Young African were broken.

“I have never been in such a terrible situation, because we were making good progress and then things just fell apart,” Mukoya said.



A loss

Most of the players that were playing for the club were recruited by the NSC because of their footballing skills.

The NSC team which gained promotion to the 2024/25 Debmarine Namibia Premiership was however unable to compete in top-flight football due to the rules that prohibit teams from the same ministry playing in one league.

The fact that Khomas Nampol FC was already playing in the league meant that the NSC team was unable to be awarded promotion and Blue Boys were instead promoted.

This prompted the NSC leadership to buy shares from Young African FC to ensure that most of their players that played in the First Division gets game time.

The deal however broke down after the NSC failed to pay Ngarizemo the agreed fees to acquire the club fully.

In the meantime the NSC leadership took the NFA to court challenging their omission from promotion, which eventually led to their expulsion.

As things stand, most of the players that the NCS hired with football intentions are now looking for greener pastures elsewhere.

Most of them have started appearing for different clubs around Windhoek, while others idle in Mariental.

“Yes I can confirm many of the colleagues have decided to pursue their passion by joining other teams.

“The only thing is that they remain employees of the force and they only go to their respective clubs on weekends,” Mukoya noted.



Prohibited

Sport Wrap understands that the NCS employees were given a direct instruction not to sign for Young African FC, following the fallout.

In fact, none of the players attached to the NCS that were previously in Young African’s ranks played in the MTC Maris Cup semi-final.

“The players may sign to any other club but not just to Young African FC, because of what transpired.

“As for me, I am just focused on my work for now, hoping that I will be able to coach again,” Mukoya said.

Young African has seen exceptional success so far this year – remaining the only unbeaten team in the Debmarine Namibia Premier Football League and holding on to a strong second position, while also reaching the upcoming MTC Maris Cup final to be played against African Stars.