No official sponsor yet for NFPL
The football association has yet to secure sponsorship for its leagues.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
Windhoek
Namibia Football Association (NFA) league director Mabos Vries says the current infighting between Namibian football leaders is making it difficult for sponsors to come on board.
Vries, who is tasked to run the NFA leagues including the inaugural Namibia Premier Football League (NPFL), has revealed that the new league has not secured a sponsor yet.
Football in the country is set to return after it was once again halted by the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw contact sport being prohibited.
The leagues, which are currently in a transitional season, are being funded by the football association.
NFA is believed to have already spent millions to keep the transitional leagues active.
“Our beautiful brand of football is being tarnished by the negativity around it and this is making it very difficult to attract sponsors.
“We are, however, working overtime to ensure that we get sponsors on board,” Vries said.
“My word of advice to the leaders is that they must settle their differences and shy away from negative publicity in order to restore the trust of corporate Namibia.”
Transitional season to resume
The league director is, however, confident that they will find ways in which they can run a successful season.
Vries and team are currently working to ensure that the transitional season resumes as well as the MTC NFA Cup, which is in its round of 16 stage.
Last year, MTC announced a sponsorship of N$4.5 million per year towards the NFA Cup for a period of three years.
The sponsorship is believed to have benefitted almost over 220 teams - which translates to over 4 000 players around the country.
Teams have an opportunity to pocket a whopping N$500 000 for the first place, while second place will earn the runner-up team N$250 000. The third and fourth teams will win N$150 000 and N$100 000 respectively.
“We are lucky and proud to have MTC as the sponsor of the NFA Cup and this is something that we really appreciate.
“The team is therefore preparing to stage the next round of the competition soon.
“We also aimed at concluding the transitional period in order to start with the actual season,” Vries said.
New broom
Last December, the NFA’s ordinary congress adopted constitutional changes to incorporate the NFPL into its structures.
The new league replaced the expelled MTC Namibia Premier League (NPL), which was recently granted a licence as a professional sports body by the Namibia Sports Commission.
The NFPL consist for 12 former NPL clubs: Black Africa, Citizen, Young African, Civics, Orlando Pirates, Blue Waters, Young Brazilians, Tura Magic, Mighty Gunners, Eleven Arrows, Tigers and Julinho Sporting. Clubs like African Stars, Unam FC, Okahandja United and Life Fighters are yet to join the new league.
Windhoek
Namibia Football Association (NFA) league director Mabos Vries says the current infighting between Namibian football leaders is making it difficult for sponsors to come on board.
Vries, who is tasked to run the NFA leagues including the inaugural Namibia Premier Football League (NPFL), has revealed that the new league has not secured a sponsor yet.
Football in the country is set to return after it was once again halted by the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw contact sport being prohibited.
The leagues, which are currently in a transitional season, are being funded by the football association.
NFA is believed to have already spent millions to keep the transitional leagues active.
“Our beautiful brand of football is being tarnished by the negativity around it and this is making it very difficult to attract sponsors.
“We are, however, working overtime to ensure that we get sponsors on board,” Vries said.
“My word of advice to the leaders is that they must settle their differences and shy away from negative publicity in order to restore the trust of corporate Namibia.”
Transitional season to resume
The league director is, however, confident that they will find ways in which they can run a successful season.
Vries and team are currently working to ensure that the transitional season resumes as well as the MTC NFA Cup, which is in its round of 16 stage.
Last year, MTC announced a sponsorship of N$4.5 million per year towards the NFA Cup for a period of three years.
The sponsorship is believed to have benefitted almost over 220 teams - which translates to over 4 000 players around the country.
Teams have an opportunity to pocket a whopping N$500 000 for the first place, while second place will earn the runner-up team N$250 000. The third and fourth teams will win N$150 000 and N$100 000 respectively.
“We are lucky and proud to have MTC as the sponsor of the NFA Cup and this is something that we really appreciate.
“The team is therefore preparing to stage the next round of the competition soon.
“We also aimed at concluding the transitional period in order to start with the actual season,” Vries said.
New broom
Last December, the NFA’s ordinary congress adopted constitutional changes to incorporate the NFPL into its structures.
The new league replaced the expelled MTC Namibia Premier League (NPL), which was recently granted a licence as a professional sports body by the Namibia Sports Commission.
The NFPL consist for 12 former NPL clubs: Black Africa, Citizen, Young African, Civics, Orlando Pirates, Blue Waters, Young Brazilians, Tura Magic, Mighty Gunners, Eleven Arrows, Tigers and Julinho Sporting. Clubs like African Stars, Unam FC, Okahandja United and Life Fighters are yet to join the new league.
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