Windhoek: Gobabis Mayor Elwin Gariseb has resigned from his position as an executive committee member of the Omaheke Regional Football Association (ORFA). Gariseb was one of six executive members in the association and was tasked with overseeing the Omaheke Third Division Football League.According to Namibia Press Agency, Mabos Vries, acting general secretary of the Namibia Football Association (NFA), confirmed Gariseb's departure. 'The decision aligns with broader leadership shifts in local football governance and complies with Section 25 of the Namibia Sports Act,' he said. Under this legislation, political office bearers are prohibited from holding governance roles within sports bodies.Although the NFA directed that Gariseb's resignation take effect on 31 July 2026, he remained in office until Tuesday after ORFA asked him to finalise ongoing matters within the third division. Gariseb's exit reflects a wider movement toward statutory compliance and political neutrality across local sports administration . Similar high-profile departures include former executive council member Lourence Kandundu, who stepped down following directives from the Namibia Sports Commission and was subsequently replaced by former ||Kharas chairperson Nettie Cloete. Additionally, Keetmanshoop Mayor Emrico Blaauw recently resigned from his post as chairperson of the ||Kharas Regional Football Association.Vries noted that Gariseb's resignation underscores a crucial transition toward greater compliance, accountability, and transparency within Namibian football governance. Following the announcement, ORFA chairperson Theobald Kahuure assured stakeholders that the association's operations would continue smoothly. He explained that the executive committee will assess whether to fill the vacancy through an internal appointment or by recruiting an external candidate.'We were six members running the affairs of ORFA and everyone had duties to do. We will see whether we will fill the position internally or source from outside,' he said. Kah uure commended Gariseb's notable contributions to regional sports development, highlighting his valuable ideas and affirming that the mayor would remain an important stakeholder in future initiatives to promote football across the Omaheke Region.