Social leagues take centre stageFootball lovers devoted to community games Towns across the country still have their social leagues up and running in the absence of Namibia Premier League games. Between Greenwell Matongo and Wanaheda lies an uneven gravel football field that on a Saturday or Sunday cannot be ignored as a group of people gather to watch football.Speaking to Sport Wrap Samora Machel soccer league chairperson Professor Iyambo said the Samora field in Katutura has become the place to be every Saturday and Sunday for people from all walks of life.
He mentioned that the league consists of 18 teams and they make sure that each team gets a chance to play during the weekend.
The games kick off as early as 08:00 and finish at 17:00 or 18:00 during those two weekend days.
Iyambo explained that despite the huge interest from teams in the informal settlements, the league still has to remain competitive.
“For one to be part of the league, you have to pay a registration fee for your team, which is paid in instalments.
“The amount to be paid is decided by the committee that is leading the league and that same committee then adds up that amount which at the end of the year will be used to reward the top five teams on the log,” he said.
He mentioned that because they want to remain competitive only the best five are rewarded. “We want all teams to be competitive and aim to be in the top teams that get a reward, so the team that finished seventh that season can pull up their socks next season to aim for top five as well.”
He further explained that not all teams are carried through to the next season, as three at the bottom are relegated to welcome new teams.
“We do not just carry the teams from January to December but we do relegate some of the teams so that we can welcome the new teams because there are other teams that really want to play so we relegate the last three.
“We have to stick to 18 teams because those are the ones we can manage and that is why we have decided that we will be relegating some to welcome new ones,” he said.
Iyambo said because people in informal settlements have not been close to the game, they have seen how the league is keeping the people entertained, “that is why our song is to bring the game to people and get people closer to the game.”
Having produced players such as Peter Shalulile, who now plays for Highlands Park in South Africa, Iyambo mentioned that as the chairperson of the league, “what they are investing in the community is not in vain as we are working tirelessly so that gives us so much courage to know that we have produced premier league players and national team players like Peter Shalulile for example”.
“We have produced a lot of players who have joined so many teams and that gives us hope that what we are doing is not just for nothing but important in the community,” he said.
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In Walvis Bay, football lovers also continue to keep each other entertained and Nathaniel Maxuilili football club''s PRO Sebby Johannes said social leagues are important and should not be overlooked.
“It is important to have teams playing in the social leagues because this is where you get the best players who can join the premier league teams because in order for them to get there they have to start from social leagues,” he said.
In his town clubs organise matches and contribute a fee that they can use as prize money.
Because of different duties, most teams opt to play on Sundays and at times they play for fun without having to put money together to compete for.
He mentioned that the interest is immense. “When you come to stadiums where we play they are ever packed and that just shows you that people are thirsty and hungry to watch local football.
“I think it is important that we don''t kill social leagues because the more we have them the more players we are producing and in order for a player to go to the premier league they have to start from the ground,” he emphasised, adding that all towns that have social leagues going on should continue doing so, “especially this hungry time that we still do not have our league running, we need to be close to the game of football this time.”
KAINO NGHITONGO