Stars take Van Rhyn under their wing

Defending Namibia Premier League (NPL) champions and 2018 Debmarine Namibia Cup winners, African Stars, have taken Van Rhyn Primary School players under their wing for the next three years, with an option to extend the initiative.Katutura-based Stars, who have won the NPL title on four occasions, will guide and groom the school players, while teaching them the basic skills of the game. African Stars administrator Lesley Kozonguizi told Nampa last week, they decided to adopt the school, which will be part of their youth structures, in order to comply with coming Fifa club licensing regulations.“We have indicated to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) our interest in competing in the 55th edition of Africa's premier club football tournament, and part of their requirements is having youth structures. We saw it fit to start giving back to our communities, hence our decision to adopt Van Rhyn,” he said.Kozonguizi said they had written letters to different schools, with the aim of including them in their youth development programmes, but only Van Rhyn came back to them.“Our aim of adopting Windhoek-based Van Rhyn is to train their school teams once, if not twice a week, about basic football skills. Our assistant coach, with the help of our players, will train the young players after school. Our head coach will join them when his schedule allows.” The club administrator said by the time club licensing is enforced in the country, they will be operating full-swing. African Stars head coach Robert Nauseb called on the school kids to take their education seriously, as sport is a short career.“I did not finish matric and I was fortunate enough to play professional football. Despite that, I know how important it is to have an education that will help you feed your family or contribute to the country's development differently, if you don't make it in sport,” said Nauseb. He added that after his playing stint in South Africa, he decided to come home and contribute positively, and working with Van Rhyn Primary School is a dream come true for him.

Stars take Van Rhyn under their wing

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-24

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Stars take Van Rhyn under their wing

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-24

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