WINDHOEK – Some things just never change, the seemingly catatonic powers that be at the MTC Namibia Premier League (NPL), have got it totally wrong once again.

The self-styled football gurus have raised eyebrows among the general football loving public with some highly questionable nominees ahead of the NPL awards ceremony, strangely slated for Sunday at the Safari Hotel, south of Windhoek. More deserving nominees such as the water-tight Brave Warriors centre back pair of Dudes Mwedihanga and Da Costa Angula are glaring omissions, while the self-proclaimed panel of judges also left out Black Africa’s versatile midfielder Denzil Haoseb and Ramblers hard-galloping fullback Larry Horaeb.

To rub salt in the wound, the applied criteria invite more questions than they provide answers as it emerged that the clearly ignorant football administrators resolved to rope in the services of team captains to cast their votes on the Players Player of the Year nominees – very much against internationally accepted norms where fellow players are normally afforded the honour to vote for their favourite candidate.

All 12 coaches from teams that campaigned in the NPL last term have been given the nod to compile a short-list of nominees for the Player of the Season Award, whereas such an honour is globally bestowed upon sport scribes in properly organized leagues.

The Chairman’s Award goes to the individual or team that has risen against all odds, displaying excellence and exhibiting exemplary conduct in the promotion of football at the sole discretion of the league’s Chairman and carries a prize of N$30 000.

The Golden Boot Award is a done and dusted deal with Black Africa’s Jerome “the Crocodile” Louis and Richard Kavendjii (Hotspurs) ready to share the N$30 000 prize at stake. The shortlisted nominees in their respective categories are as follows:
MTC Players Player of the Season (N$20 000): Heini Isaacks (Civics), Brian Bantam (BA) and Stigga Ketjijere (A Stars).

MTC Coach of the Season (N$20 000): Gilbert Rwasoka (B Waters), Brian Isaacs (BA) and Christy Guruseb (Civics).
MTC Player of the Season (N$30 000): Brian Bantam (BA), Heini Isaacs (Civics) and Ballack Somaeb (B Waters).

MTC Referee of the Season (N$10 000): Reihold Shikongo (Khomas), Helmuth Andreas (Erongo) and Alex Tiyeho (Otjozondjupa).
MTC Assistant Referee of the Season: Alfeus Shipanga (Kavango), Dawid Shaanika (Khomas) and Mathew Kanyanga (Khomas).