Namibia: Premier League to Stay At 12

Sheefeni Nikodemus

14 June 2011

THE Namibia Premier League will not be expanded to 14 teams, the NFA announced yesterday.

The decision to leave the premier league at its current twelve team capacity was taken at the NFA’s consultative meeting held at Keetmanshoop on Saturday.

The league was trimmed from 16 to 12 teams in accordance with the regulations of the Windhoek Declaration in 2009, however a number of voices within the football fraternity have recently been calling for it to be expanded to 14 clubs.

NPL chairperson Johnny Doëseb reportedly was not keen on the idea, which was discussed at the NPL’s BoG meeting last week, as it would put a further strain on the already meagre resources available to Namibian football.

Saturday’s meeting concurred with the league’s boss and suggested that instead, additional cup competitions be started up.

“Doëseb informed the meeting that it was impossible for the league to expand from 12 clubs under the current circumstances,” read a statement from the NFA. “The meeting resolved to increase matches for the league clubs in terms of possible cup competitions.”

Another issue on the consultative meeting’s agenda was the demarcation of the lower leagues. The meeting agreed to allow for the leagues to be sub-divided within various regions to ease the travel burden on clubs and increase player participation.

According to the statement, this decision is only binding once the sub-league is comprised of not more than 12 clubs and not less than seven.

The meeting was addressed by NFA president John Muinjo on issues pertaining to the 2010 Fifa World Cup legacy programs in terms of what possibilities exist for Namibia to benefit from spin-offs of Africa’s first World Cup.

The meeting, attended by all members of the football association, endorsed the appointment of a six-member NFA Sponsorship Committee that is tasked with ensuring that the association’s corporate ties are strengthened and expanded.

The six-members are; Roger Kambatuku (Otjozondjupa), Cornelius Kapenda (NFA Vice President and Treasurer), Johnny Doëseb (NPL Chief), Kenneth Goseb (Southern Stream First Division), Barry Rukoro (NFA SG) and Jacqueline Gertze (NFA Women Desk).

In addition, the consultative meeting participants donated N$2 660 to the bereaved family of the victims that died as a result of the cold at Keetmanshoop recently.

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