Namibia: Carol Garoës At It Again

Carlos Kambaekwa

14 July 2011

Windhoek — The All Namibia Netball Associations (ANNA) boss Lydia Kandetu is spitting venom at her disgruntled predecessor, former President, Carol Garoës.

The Iron Lady of Namibian netball is at the centre of a storm brewing over Namibia’s alleged participation in a continental tournament to be hosted by Ghana this year.

ANNA President Kandetu says her executive got wind that Garoës has tip-toed to a number of individual netballers to solicit interest for their inclusion in the Namibian team for her West African sojourn.

Garoës was unseated during a hotly contested election in Otjiwarongo last year that saw Kandetu overwhelmingly voted into the position of President following the intervention by the then Minister of Youth, National Service, Sports and Culture Reverend Willem Konjore. The line minister told Garoës and her floundering executive via the National Sports Commission in no uncertain terms to shape up or ship out – adding that failure to heed the call would result in dire consequences.

It’s a well-documented secret that Garoës did not take kindly to her forced removal and has vowed to fight the legitimacy of the Elective Congress tooth and nail.

Although details of her grievances remain sketchy, those in the know claim Garoës has been a frequent visitor to the line ministry in a last ditch effort to have the result of the election overturned.

Garoës is no stranger to controversy and has in the past taken an under-strength team to Ghana for a two-nation test match against African minnows Ghana in Accra under the guise of an African Cup of Nations where Namibia was declared the unofficial continental champions in 2008 after seeing off Ghana in a match of convenience.

A furious Deputy Director of Marginalized People and Women in Sports Jo-Ann Manuel, lashed out at Garoës’ antics saying that she has no mandate or permission to organize let alone negotiate any international matches for the Namibian Netball team as she is no longer serving on the ANNA Executive.

During Garoës’ reign – Namibian netball went into self-imposed exile with zero participation in regional or international competitions for over a decade – prompting the line minister to intervene.

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