Clubs lick financial wounds

Some Namibian Premier League (NPL) clubs have suspended their operations because of the financial implications associated with the inactivity of the league.

Clubs normally survive on a N$114 280 monthly grant they each receive from the NPL through main sponsors MTC and FNB during the season.

The 2018/19 season was concluded in May, with Black Africa being crowned as champions.

However, this was followed by a dark cloud of uncertainty about the start of the season.

It has been nearly five months and there is no sign that the 2019/20 season will kick off, as the NPL and the Fifa normalisation committee clash over relegations.

Tigers FC spokesperson Hafeni Hiveluah confirmed the club is currently not training until there is a proper directive on what will happen to the league.

“We did try to keep the players fit by organising a few training sessions and friendly matches.

“It has, however, become difficult to do so because we pay the players through the monthly grants we were getting from the NPL.

“It is true that without these funds we have not been able to maintain the players and to pay for fields, and that is why we had to send them home until the league situation is resolved,” Hiveluah said.

Namibian Sun has also learned that Tura Magic FC have also suspended training.

It is understood that the club's only expense at the moment is a property they are renting for player accommodation.

They are currently paying for the house from their own pockets, in the absence of the league grants.

The Fifa normalisation committee, appointed by the global body to administer local football affairs, is at loggerheads with the NPL.

The feud stems from the fact that no first division football was played last season because of a lack of funds and therefore there were no promotions.

Orlando Pirates and Civics FC were however relegated from the premier league, while Young African were demoted because of player fraud. Fifa's directive is that there should be no promotions and relegations in the NPL ahead of the new season.

The NPL had planned to commence the new season with 13 clubs, thereby excluding Pirates, Civics and Young African.

The tug-of-war has created a ring of uncertainty.

Blue Walters' Knowledge Ipinge said the situation in Walvis Bay is different.

“Blue Waters have been training since July and we continue to pay our players, even if it's the off-season.

“We are funding the club through our own resources, because training fees have to be paid.

“We also have about seven players we brought for trials and we had to pay for this.

“It is no secret that the NPL grants take a huge load off our finances, but in their absence, clubs must try and seek alternative funding,” Ipinge said.

He urged corporate Namibia to inject more money into football clubs in order for them to reach professional status.

African Stars have also continued with training, despite the difficult financial situation.

The club said they have no choice but to continue holding training sessions, because of their responsibilities towards foreign and local players.

“We have no other choice but to continue training, because we have players we brought from outside Namibia's borders and they need to be active.

“There are water and rental bills to be paid and we are doing that out of our own pockets.

“The truth is that we are burning our pockets at the moment and we hope that football can start as soon as possible,” African Stars executive director Salomo Hei said.

NPL spokesperson Andre Gariseb is adamant that the feud will be sorted and that the league will kick off by November, as proposed at the league's annual general meeting.

“As we stand, I believe that the league will possibly start on 1 November, as stated last week.

“We are just waiting on the normalisation committee to send us the rules on promotion and relegation,” Gariseb said.

Fifa normalisation committee chairperson Hilda Basson-Namundjebo said the situation is sad and they hope for amicable solution as soon as possible.

The committee late yesterday afternoon held a meeting to deliberate on the NPL's request for promotion and relegation rules.

“It is sad because I actually spoke to a few coaches and found out that they have not been paid for the last couple of months.

“The situation is not pleasing for anyone and that is why we hope that we will be able to fix this as soon as possible.

“The only thing I can assure you is that there is hope and we will deal with the matter in an efficient way, for the sake of the players and coaches,” Basson-Namundjebo added.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa