DebMarine comes to NFA rescue

DebMarine comes to NFA rescue Cup to kick off next year After failing to secure a sponsor for the NFA Cup this year, the association promised to secure one and diamond company DebMarine is the new cup sponsor. Namibia diamond company DebMarine has come to the rescue of Namibian football as they have announced their sponsorship for the Namibia Football Association (NFA) Cup for the next three years.

At a joint media briefing yesterday, the diamond company announced that they will be sponsoring the competition to the tune of N$14.1 million, with a commitment of N$4.7 million to the Cup.

The football association welcomed the new partners on board, stating that it was about time the Cup that caters for many teams, gets a full sponsorship.

Speaking at the event the NFA president Frans Mbidi said: “It was important for us that we managed to secure a sponsorship with such a big company.

“I would like to thank DebMarine for having entrusted us with the sponsorship which shows that the association has been working tirelessly for football to continue.

“From now we are going to make sure that all the other divisions under the NFA get sponsorships and we will also try to introduce more competitions,” he said.

Mbidi also promised a high level and standard of organisation and that the association will commit to financial transparency and accountability

Meanwhile, Debmarine’s CEO Otto Shikongo said they are happy to be part of football.

“We hope that the funds will be used well and not to buy Navara cars,” he said.

The Cup was last sponsored by Bidvest Namibia but since their sponsorship contract ended, NFA failed to secure a sponsor and could not stage the competition this year.

The competition has been in existence since 1990, but was not held in 1997, 2001 and 2012 due to sponsorship problems.

Tigers are the defending champions, while Chief Santos and African Stars are the record holders, having won the competition on four occasions each.

The competition is expected to kick off next year February.

The winners of the competition will walk away with N$500 000, while each participating team will receive N$18 000 and continues to get that same amount as they progress into the competition.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA