More NPL teams to join African safari

Namibia Premier League (NPL) chairman Patrick Kauta has revealed that plans are afoot to ensure that more topflight teams are able to compete in African competitions.

Kauta said Namibian teams have been absent from participating in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League and the CAF Confederations Cup because of the qualifying criteria set by the NPL.

The only Namibian teams that are currently allowed to participate in CAF competitions are the NPL champions, who compete in the CAF Champions League, and the NFA Cup winners, who compete in CAF Confederations Cup.

There is a different scenario in other countries, because even teams that finish fourth are able to compete in the CAF Confederations Cup.

“I do believe that it is time we do consider changing the qualification format for the Confederations Cup, in order to have more Namibian teams representing us on the African level.

“This is one of the only ways that can help Namibian teams to turn professional because they do gain exposure if they compete in such tournaments.

“There are so many plans we have with the league and we are currently trying to schedule something with the ministry of sport to discuss matters of this nature,” Kauta said.

African Stars are currently the only Namibian team competing in the CAF Confederations Cup this year.

Stars are due to play Morocco's Raja Casablanca at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday at 16:00 in a first-leg clash.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa