Domestic football has finally roared to life in Peter Shalulile’s home country Namibia for the first time in four years.
Apart from the Mamelodi Sundowns net-buster Shalulile, Namibia has produced players such as Orlando Pirates’ Deon Hotto for South Africa.
Shalulile has monopolised the DStv Premiership Golden Boot Award in the last three seasons.
The list of Namibians to grace PSL fields includes Rudolf Bester (Pirates), Ricardo Manetti (Santos) and Ronny Kanalelo (Sundowns).
A BIG DEAL
Namibian Football Association (NFA) spokesperson Nancy Halweendo confirmed to FARPost the Namibian Premier League (NFL) resumption over the weekend.
Halweendo could not hide her excitement over the domestic league’s kick-off after a four-year hiatus.
“After almost four years of no domestic action in the country, our league [Debmarine Namibia Premiership] kicked off Sunday at 4:30pm at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek,” she told FARPost.
“It’s definitely a big deal, not only for the players but the entire country,” Halweendo said they missed the domestic game, describing it as a way of life.
“Football is one of the most celebrated sports in Namibia and creates endless opportunities and revenue by virtue of that superiority.”
“So, it is amazing to see the reunion of the football family after so many years of stagnation.”
League giants African Stars kicked off the season with a 1-0 win over UNAM FC at Hage Geingob Stadium.
There was good news ahead of the season kickoff after Debmarine took over the league’s sponsorship to the tune of R13 million.
The league is now called Debmarine Premier League, according to the company’s CEO, Otto Shikongo.
“I take this opportunity to encourage clubs, players, and technical teams to focus on giving their best to the game,” the NFA website quotes Shikongo.
“It is through your efforts, team spirit and disciple, on and off the field, that will make the game entertaining and attractive.”
The league was thrown into a quandary in 2019 due to a bitter feud between the NFL and NFA.
LEAGUE START
However, it was not all plain sailing on the reopening of the league.
Media reports from Namibia suggested that some clubs were unprepared for the new season.
Some teams also demanded the contents of the year-long sponsorship with Debmarine.
The teams feared the agreement could be in conflict with the clubs’ legal and commercial interests.
The league comprises 12 teams: Orlando Pirates, Civics, Blue Waters, Young Brazilians, Mighty Gunners, Eleven Arrows, Shalulile’s childhood club, Tura Magic and Julinho Sporting.
NFA AND NFL STAND-OFF
The league was thrown into a quandary in 2019 when NFL refused to adhere to the NFA directive against relegating Orlando Pirates, Young African and Civics.
NFL and NFA took an ugly twist as the two parties took each to High Court, Supreme Court in Namibia then Court for Sports Arbitration in Switzerland.
The battle cost Namibia football flagship league sponsorship after mobile phone services company MTC withdrew the purse.
Football was thrown into disarray years ago due to administrative squabbles that saw NFA suspending its affiliate, the NFA.
