Rukoro's Behaviour Can't Be Condoned

Sport Commission of Namibia says it will not condone the behaviour of the Namibia Football Association's secretary general, Barry Rukoro, who is accused of assaulting a consultant after a media conference at Soccer House in Katutura. Rusten Mogane, head of the Sport Commission, said although it is an internal NFA matter, Rukoro is a senior official in the sport fraternity and should be "tolerant" with the media. When approach for comment John Muinjo, president of NFA promised to call back, but later ignored his cellphone and could not be reached. It is not known whether the NFA will launch an official investigation into the assault allegations against its top administrator.

Rukoro is accused of having punched an independent consultant, Andreas Nowotny, after the media briefing on Tuesday, where the match kit was handed over and the venue for tomorrow's Leo NFA Cup Final was announced.

Nowotny is believed to have irritated Rukoro with his persistent questions about Heinrich Isaacks, the captain of Civics, who is suspended from playing the final against Eleven Arrows.

It would appear that Rukoro did not take kindly to Nowotny's line of questioning and approached him after the media briefing.

Nowotny is now threatening to lay a charge of assault against Rukoro if the latter does not apologise to him publicly.

"Look, Barry Rukoro just punched me on the mouth," is what a flustered Nowotny said as he rushed into the media room at the Namibia Football Association's Soccer House on Tuesday morning.

Nowotny claimed that the NFA's secretary general initially subjected him to a verbal tirade before hitting him in the face.

Having invited the media and guests to help themselves to refreshments, Rukoro followed Nowotny outside the media room where he allegedly attacked him before the administrator hurriedly left the scene to seek refuge in his office.

"I was shocked," Nowotny said. "I did not expect this from him."

In contrast Rukoro said: "He is taking chances. In fact he was telling me things... actually insulting me as I was leaving the venue."

However, Nowotny claims Rukoro called him a few hours after the alleged attack to apologise. The Austrian national, who is married to a Namibian and has lived in the country for two and a half years, said he would open a case of assault against Rukoro with the Namibian Police unless he gets a public apology.

"While I was at my doctor to get an affidavit, Barry Rukoro called me twice and wanted to apologise," he said.

"I told him I'd have to think about it. I also told him that I would like him to apologise in public because he punched me in a public place. It's only fair.