Young Africans FC have been sensationally relegated from MTC Premier League after being found guilty of fielding an ineligible player Tapiwa Simon Musekiwa by the Namibian Premier League Disciplinary Committee.
As a punishment, the Young Africans were fined N$25 000 (USD 3,608) to be payable before the end of May, while points amassed in matches the player featured were to be awarded to their opponents.
It is alleged that Young Africans used false names of Albert Mujikijera to register the Zimbabwean, who was sometimes back chased away in Botswana for using fake identification.
“Young African was found guilty on both Count 1 and Count 2 respectively, Young African forfeits points for all the matches that the player played under the fraudulent cloud and that the points be deducted that were gained by Young African FC and must be awarded to the opponents whom they were playing against for each match,” read a statement by NPL which was released on Friday.
Maleagi Ngarizemo, the coach of Young Africans FC, blasted the NPL stating that the ruling was illegal.
“The disciplinary committee does not have the power to relegate a team, only the congress can do that, according to the NPL’s constitution. Furthermore, according to article 58,1, a complaint has to be made within three weeks of the misconduct, so it’s already way past the expiry date,” Ngarizemo asserted.
Meanwhile, the club, through its lawyers are reported to have filed an appeal asking that their dismissal from the top flight be rescinded.
Young Africans believe that the ruling failed to adhere to Article 57.1 of the NPL Manual on Rules and Regulations which stipulates, in part, that such penalties or orders by the Disciplinary Committee “will only become effective when the internal remedies available to the parties so sentenced have been exhausted”, or when the “time limit to exercise the next available internal remedy has expired”.
After the expulsion of Young Africans, Black Africa remains on top of the log standings with 20 points, followed by Mighty Gunners also with 20 points.
Life Fighters have 12 points, the same number as Eleven Arrows, while Citizens have 11 points, just like Tura Magic, Young Brazilians and Julinho Sporting.
