Erasmus Shalihaxwe
Football Club Ongos and former head coach Mervin Mbakera have parted ways following the club’s poor performance, which saw them end at the bottom of the log in the Debmarine Premiership under Mbakera’s reign.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the club confirmed the departure of Mbakera, stating that the mutually agreed upon contract termination is effective from 17 December 2024.
“FC Ongos would like to announce that the club and coach Mbakera have mutually agreed to terminate the agreement effective 17 December 2024. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to coach Mervin Mbakera for his contributions to the club during his tenure and wish him every success in his future endeavours,” the statement read.
Since the beginning of the season, the club has only managed to secure two points from two draws and three losses.
This left them at the bottom of the table, one point adrift of King Kauluma Palace Football Club and Civics Football Club, both on three points and in the relegation zone.
Mbakera’s spokesperson, Terry Ujamba, told Windhoek Observer on Tuesday that the poor results the team has been producing since the start of the season led to the termination of the coach’s contract.
He also emphasised that it was a mutual agreement between both parties, not a dismissal as the public had perceived.
“Football is about results, and if results aren’t going your way, sometimes it is better to make way for others who may bring in new ideas that could work for the club. FC Ongos is a professionally run team with integrity, managed by professional administrators, which is why both parties reached this agreement,” said Ujamba.
In response to questions about Mbakera’s future plans, Ujamba stated that it was too early to tell, but assured that the coach would always be available for any suitable football assignment when needed.
“Football will always be a passion for coach Mbakera, and this has been a valuable learning experience for him. As you know, he is one of the youngest coaches in the country, so he will remain available for any football opportunity where his services are needed. FC Ongos is a club that placed a great deal of trust in us, and we will always be ready to assist them whenever they need us,” Ujamba expressed.
Before joining FC Ongos, Mbakera coached African Stars and Tigers, a team he also played for before retiring as a player.
