Doeseb raises football hopesNamibia Premier League (NPL) chairman Johnny Doeseb has hinted that there is good news in store for local football. Chairman hints at sponsorship good news 0 Namibia Premier League chairman Johnny Johnson Doeseb has hinted that there will be good news for local football this week.The businessman, who is popularly known as JJD, posted a message on his Facebook page that suggests that the NPL has sourced funding for it to kick off its league activities.
“This week will be a memorable one for me and I can only thank God. I will equally make an announcement on NPL sponsorship and I am happy. Wishing you all a splendid day, my friends,” he posted yesterday.
The NPL had appeared to be in dire straits after mobile telecommunications company MTC had opted to end its 14-year association with the league.
Although the company had originally agreed to extend its sponsorship for another three years (to the tune of N$15 million per season), the NPL’s budget of N$24 million per season was considered out of their reach.
As a result they tasked the NPL with sourcing an additional N$9 million to complement their offer.
The NPL was unable to raise that amount within the stipulated time, resulting in MTC withdrawing its “conditional commitment” to sponsor the league.
MTC’s sponsorship withdrawal led to speculation that Namibia’s elite league may not kick off this season; an eventuality that most pundits agreed would be catastrophic for local football.
But Doeseb’s mysterious post has now led to optimism among some football fans on social media.
“I know JJD is a good guy and he didn’t fail again,” posted Iniesta Kanduuombe.
“If this man becomes secretary general of NFA (Namibia Football Association) great things will happen in Namibian football, I’m telling you,” Mike Thomas wrote.
Difficulty
Doeseb is seemingly playing his cards close to his chest and as such, details regarding the new funding have been hard to come by.
MTC had stated that even if the NPL raised the N$9 million now, it would not automatically mean that it would renew its sponsorship deal.
Instead, the company made it clear that while its door was still open, negotiations for an extension of the sponsorship would have to start from scratch.
It therefore remains to be seen if MTC will return as sponsor or whether Doeseb has sourced a new backer for the league.
Namibia’s football season traditionally runs from August to May, though it has occasionally kicked off later than scheduled a number of times in recent years.
The new season will see Tigers attempting to defend their NPL title.
Other teams in the 2016/17 season are African Stars (Windhoek), Black Africa (Windhoek), Blue Waters (Walvis Bay), Chief Santos (Tsumeb), Citizens (Windhoek), Civics (Windhoek), Eleven Arrows (Walvis Bay), Life Fighters (Otjiwarongo), Mighty Gunners (Otjiwarongo), Orlando Pirates (Windhoek), Rundu Chiefs (Rundu),Tura Magic (Windhoek), Unam (Windhoek), Young Africans (Gobabis) and Young Chiefs (Oshakati).