Namibia’s Orlando Pirates hit with transfer ban

Namibian club Orlando Pirates have been handed a three-window transfer ban over a contract breach involving a former player.

The Windhoek-based club was sanctioned by FIFA for not fully paying former player Aaron Yaw Ladakpa after terminating his contract unfairly with the players seeking redress at the world football governing body.

“The ban prohibits the club from registering any new players both nationally and internationally until all financial obligations to former player Aaron Yaw Ladakpa have been fulfilled,” said a statement from the Namibia Football Association.

“Ladakpa took the matter to FIFA for adjudication regarding unpaid remuneration and compensation for a wrongful contract termination.

Who are Orlando Pirates of Namibia?

“The maximum duration for the ban is three consecutive registration periods. The ban will be lifted once Orlando Pirates has made full payment to Ladakpa in terms of the ruling by the FIFA Disputes Resolution Chamber.”

There was confusion in South Africa on Wednesday following the news, with a section of fans thinking it was the Soweto giants who had been sanctioned.

However, they later learned that there is another club in Namibia with the name Orlando Pirates, which was the one in trouble with FIFA and not Jose Riveiro’s team.

Formed 61 years ago, Namibia’s Orlando Pirates are two-time league winners, having been crowned in 1990 and 2008, and like their South African counterparts they also go by the nicknames Sea Robbers and Buccaneers.