Cloud of confusion

MTC Namibia Premier League (NPL) chairman Patrick Kauta confirmed yesterday that the bottom three clubs will be relegated from the league regardless of what happens with the country's first division streams.As things stand, the first division streams are yet to kick off and remain shrouded in uncertainty.“Three teams will be relegated by Sunday and that is the final decision, even if the first division fails to start.“The (premier) league will have to commence for the 2019/20 season with 13 clubs if the first division promotions do not take place,” Kauta said at a media briefing yesterday.Kauta cited the rules and regulations that govern the premier league.Rule 1.1.1 states that the league shall consist of no more than 16 clubs. “The club which, at the end of the 2018/19 soccer season, placed number 14, 15 and 16 on the final log standings of the MTC NPL shall be automatically relegated to the league below the NPL,” the rule states. Rule 4.2 says “any matter relating to the promotion or relegation of a club to or from one league to another, and for which no provision is made herein, shall be decided by the executive committee of the association whose decision shall be final.” As a result, the NPL and the Namibia Football Association (NFA) normalisation committee will have to sit and decide whether first division football will be played during the months of June and July to allow for clubs to be promoted.A taskforce from the NPL and normalisation committee was appointed to oversee and find workable ways for the relegations and promotions to take place by April.The two parties have, however, on occasion failed to meet to discuss the way forward on the first division since the plan was initiated.It was finally announced yesterday that NPL CEO Herald Fuelle and executive member Bony Paulino were set to meet with the normalisation committee to discuss the way forward.Fuelle said that it was possible to start the first division streams during June and have them concluded before the start of the 2019/20 premier league season.The first division must consist of three streams, namely the Southern Stream First Division, Northwest Stream First Division and the North East Stream First Division. The southern stream must consist of 12 clubs or the number of sides agreed by the NFA. The regions forming the southern stream are Khomas, Omaheke, Hardap, //Karas and Erongo. The northwest stream must consist of 12 clubs or the number of clubs agreed by the NFA.The regions forming the northwest stream are Otjozondjupa, Kunene, Oshana and Omusati.The northeast stream is the only one allowed to have 13 clubs or the number of clubs agreed by the NFA. It comprises of the Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Kavango West, Kavango East and Zambezi regions. Pirates relegatedPremier league giants Orlando Pirates have been relegated following a 0-1 defeat to Mighty Gunners, which ensured they will finish at the bottom of the log.Civics who is just above Orlando Pirates and Blue Waters will take the relegation battle to the wire, while Young African were demoted earlier in the season.Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

Cloud of confusion

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-07

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Cloud of confusion

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-07

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