EDITORIAL: Use the Afcon reward money sensibly
The alleged stand-off between the Namibia Football Association (NFA) and the Brave Warriors players, who are reportedly demanding a sizable portion of the N$15 million the team is expected to receive for its reasonably successful participation in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), sent Namibia into overdrive yesterday.
While moderate opinions urged for the squad to receive just a portion of the money and for the remainder to be reserved for NFA programmes, some have radically recommended that all the money be divided among the 23 players and the team’s technical staff.
We feel the former argument is more sensible under the circumstances. By Namibian standards, the team’s performance, which included our first ever win at the tournament in four appearances, was great. Qualifying for the round of 16, though through the backdoor as one of the ‘best losers’, was icing on an already yummy cake.
But let’s not get carried away in the hype that will subside soon, while challenges – compounded by the lack of internationally accredited stadiums – will only continue to mount. The least Namibian supporters could accept was our first win after four attempts. And it’s only right to give the players something now that this has been accomplished. But we have to be measured in our generosity.
If Namibia is to make a bigger impact at future Afcon tournaments, we must develop football – and this may mean reserving some of the prize money for that purpose.
While moderate opinions urged for the squad to receive just a portion of the money and for the remainder to be reserved for NFA programmes, some have radically recommended that all the money be divided among the 23 players and the team’s technical staff.
We feel the former argument is more sensible under the circumstances. By Namibian standards, the team’s performance, which included our first ever win at the tournament in four appearances, was great. Qualifying for the round of 16, though through the backdoor as one of the ‘best losers’, was icing on an already yummy cake.
But let’s not get carried away in the hype that will subside soon, while challenges – compounded by the lack of internationally accredited stadiums – will only continue to mount. The least Namibian supporters could accept was our first win after four attempts. And it’s only right to give the players something now that this has been accomplished. But we have to be measured in our generosity.
If Namibia is to make a bigger impact at future Afcon tournaments, we must develop football – and this may mean reserving some of the prize money for that purpose.
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Namibian Sun
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