Every decision affects the careers and futures of players and coaches – letter to Kavango East Second Division referees and NFA by Ouzone M Mungudu
By TUW
Referees are human, they make mistakes, and that is part of football but when decisions consistently go in one direction, we must ask serious questions. Referees are custodians of fairness. Their role is to interpret and enforce the laws of the game without bias. The moment that neutrality is compromised, the integrity of football is at risk.
For players and coaches, football is not a hobby, it is a livelihood. Every decision affects careers and futures. We understand mistakes. But patterns are not mistakes, they are something else. This is an appeal to match officials: protect the game. Be fair. Be accountable. Do not allow personal interests to damage the very sport we all serve.
To those referees who continue to act with integrity receive your flowers, and we respect you. Keep protecting the beautiful game. Football depends on you.
Beyond individual integrity, structural change is urgently needed. The NFA and the Referees’ Association must come together to formulate a clear system of passing and failing within referees’ training and certification courses because i never seen anyone who had failed referees courses at basement level wandering around the streets. Only those who truly demonstrate competence should earn the right to officiate. At present, individuals with little ability join the refereeing ranks and are handed matches in the second division league where their incompetence plays out in plain view. This does not only hurt teams; it cheapens the profession itself.
Let me be clear: I do not know much about the North East First Division (NEFD) or the Namibian Premier League (NPL).My concern is here at home , the Kavango East regional second division league. What we have witnessed over the past two seasons is worse than anything seen before in this region. Some of our referees are not just making honest errors; they are actively helping the teams of their choice, mostly from the same territory, to win matches. Among them are senior referees who have been officiating for many years. When those who should know better benefit from bad officiating, that pattern needs to be studied and those responsible must be held accountable.
The consequences are not small. This bad decision-making has led to multiple games being abandoned or stopped. It has caused chaos on and off the pitch by deciding the winner of the matches . Teams lose faith. Fans become angry. Players lose opportunities. And football loses its soul. The Referees’ Association must bring in firm rules to suspend referees who commit deliberate blunders not honest mistakes, but those avoidable errors that smell of negligence or favoritism. When suspensions are applied, others will learn. Accountability is the mother of improvement. Let us not protect the wrong doings of some referees for and Protect the game instead.
And here is the marvelous truth: football, at its best, is a kind of poetry played with the feet and judged with a clear conscience. If we protect that poetry, even the smallest league in Kavango East can produce something legendary. But if we ignore the rot, the game dies quietly, whistle by whistle.
This message is directed not only to referees but also to the NFA and the media. Both must take this matter seriously. We have been suffering from bad officiating for too long. This is not emotional. It is not hatred. It is not jealousy. It is a simple demand: we want the game to be respected. That is all.
As the festive season approaches,I wish every referee, every official, and every administrator a peaceful and refreshing break. Rest well, spend time with loved ones, and use that time to reflect and upgrade. Because when the new season arrives ( 2026/2027 ) there will be no more excuses. That season must be defined by well-officiated matches, consistent standards, and a renewed respect for the game. Let that season be the one where football wins.
Football depends on all of us but especially on those who hold the whistle.
Take note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of this publication. The publication is not responsible for the accuracy of the content.
