WINDHOEK, Aug. 21 — Namibia‘s football governing body, the Namibia Football Association (NFA) on Tuesday hosted its first-ever stadium safety and security workshop in Windhoek. The two-day workshop, led by Confederation of African Football (CAF) Safety and Security Instructor, Humphrey Mandu from Uganda, and CAF Safety Security Officer, Xolile Vilakati from Eswatini, is designed to provide clubs with essential tools for managing stadium safety and security. Namibia becomes the fifth African country to implement this CAF initiative, following Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, and Rwanda. Furthermore, the program aims to enhance the management of safety measures at sports venues across the country. According to NFA President, Robert Shimooshili, while the initial focus is on the top-tier leagues, he assured that the NFA is committed to extending the safety and security program to all levels of football, including regional leagues, youth competitions, and even the NFA headquarters.
“We want to ensure that everyone involved in football, from players and referees to supporters and staff, feels safe and protected,” he said, adding that this includes creating a secure environment for match officials, ball kids, and even small businesses operating around the stadiums. At the same time, Shimooshili announced that the NFA plans to organize similar workshops in all regions, pending budget and operational planning. He also urged participants to fully engage in the sessions and apply the knowledge gained to improve safety standards in Namibian football. The workshop in Windhoek is set to conclude on Thursday. The CAF safety and security department was established in 2019 to ensure the promotion of stadium safety and security culture in all CAF competitions and tournaments as well as enhance safety and security operations during CAF events while supporting member associations in the development of capacity for the delivery of safety and security services across Africa.
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