Zebaldt Ngaruka
Rather than the roar of a packed stadium and the frantic fight for final-day points, the Okamatapati Soccer League came to a hollow, surreal standstill this past weekend when several teams failed to show up for their season-ending fixtures.
What was billed as a dramatic title-and-relegation climax instead devolved into a ghost town of locked gates, unplayed 90 minutes, and lingering questions about the integrity of the campaign.
Wilson Nguvauva, the Clemens Rukatero Vihajo Okamatapati Soccer League coordinator, told New Era Sport that the league authority is seriously looking into the matter to avoid this happening again next season.
“We are disappointed by some teams that didn’t honour their matches, which is not in compliance with our laws. It is also not in the sport’s interests. Fair play should prevail at all times,” he said.
Nguvauva said the leadership is working around the clock to protect the league’s image, which is seen as the feeder to top-level leagues in the Otjozondjupa region and at national level.
The coordinator emphasised that the league authority will take the matter seriously and that the winners will soon be officially announced and presented with their winning bonuses.
On Saturday, relegation-threatened Benoni FC suffered a heavy defeat, losing 5-10 to log leaders Okamatapati Combined School (CS), while Amakhosi Boys thrashed Tololo FC 3-1 in the next match.
Ekuija Monjama awarded three points to Young Stars FC after it failed to turn up for the fixture.
In another encounter, Scorpions FC crushed Benoni FC 5-1; however, the game was forfeited because both teams fielded unregistered players.
On Sunday, Amakhosi Boys earned three automatic points after Ombwa United failed to turn up, and a similar situation arose in the encounter between Classic Eleven and Omurari wa Coblenz, where Classic Eleven was awarded three points.
Benoni FC, who had an outstanding match, returned to the field expecting to play Ombwa United. However, the match ended in their favour as United did not travel to Okamatapati.
Moreover, Young Stars were the lucky recipients of three points when Omurari wa Coblenz didn’t honour its league obligations, whereas Classic Eleven made sure it honoured its last league fixture and collected maximum points at the expense of Ombwa United, who did not turn up.
Nguvauva added that this situation had never happened before and that the rules will be put in place so the offenders will feel the pain of dishonouring the league.
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