Namibians named to Cosafa committees

Namibia received an honour when six members of the Namibia Football Association were named to the Confederation of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) Standing Committees which were recently announced.

The president of the NFA John Muinjo is a member of the executive committee as well as the chairman of the Referees Committee.

Jacqui Shipanga of the NFA Women’s Desk and Klaus Stark, the NFA’s technical director were both elected to Cosafa’s technical committee, while the head of the NFA’s Women’s Desk, Jacky Gertze was elected to Cosafa’s Women’s Desk.

The secretary general of the NFA Barry Rukoro was elected to Cosafa’s Competitions Committee, while Meriam Tjivikua was elected to the Standby Finance Committee.

Shipanga told Namibia Sport said it was an honour to serve Cosafa and the fact that Namibia had three women elected was a special honour for Namibia.

“I have been elected to serve on the technical committee alongside Zambia’s president Kalusha Bwalya and Fran Hilton Smith of South Africa. Jackey Gertze has been nominated to serve on the Women’s Committee and Meriam Tjivikua on the Standby Finance Committee,” she said.

“This is testimony to the vigorous efforts of the NFA president John Muinjo to promote women in football in Namibia, provided they are willing to work hard and commit themselves selflessly towards the development of football. It is always an honour to be recognised by your region, continent and eventually FIFA,” she added.

Shipanga also thanked FIFA, saying that it had paved the way for her development and growth in football.

“This recognition has come in timely as the experience will serve us well in preparation of the 2014 African Women’s Football Championships that Namibia will stage. I however hope that the Namibian government will be able to send a delegation for the Local Organising Committee of 2014 to Equatorial Guinea during the 2012 African Women’s Championships to learn and share best practices,” she added.

Shipanga has also been selected to be part of FIFA’s technical study group at the Under 17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan in September 2012. She will be one of three African delegates in Azerbaijan, with the others coming from Nigeria and Ghana.

The list for the Cosafa Standing Committees for 2012 to 2014 is attached.