A need for clubs to get commercialised: Doeseb

GONE are the days when football clubs were owned by communities, says owner of Namibian Premier League (NPL) outfit Eleven Arrows, Johny Doëseb.

He said all other premier league clubs should start to commercialise themselves, as it is the only way forward to attract best players and have a sound management system. He said the lack of funds and sponsorships is the reason why teams like African Stars, Black Africa, Tigers and Oshakati City have no fields of their own, even though they have been around for many decades.However, Doëseb added that sponsorship from the private sector to premier league clubs can only be realised if teams have strategic plans that they can present when seeking sponsorships.”The NFA must institute a law that will require each premier league club to present a strategic business plan, because companies would like to know how their money is going to be spent,” said Doëseb.Doëseb decided to invest in Eleven Arrows from Walvis Bay because his business dealings are concentrated in the Erongo Region.Even though he is a Black Africa fan since childhood, Doëseb said he wants to help Eleven Arrows compete at continental level, but they first have to win the premier league title.Doëseb bought the team in 2007 and since then the club’s fortunes have changed, ending in the top five bracket of the elite league last season.He is not much worried about what he will personally benefit from the club, and only wants to see Eleven Arrows win the league, and compete in future Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League competitions.Namibia has the potential to have regional as well as world-class players, he said.”Many previous and current players and their followers are exposed to South African and English soccer, and thus have the likes of Jomo Sono, Lucas Radebe, Pele, and Thierry Henry as their role models.And that is wrong,” he said.Doëseb added that the most frustrating issue at the moment is the delay in the start of the 2008/09 football season, following the ongoing negotiations between the Namibia Football Association (NFA), Namibia Football Consortium (NFC) and the Namibia Premier League.Said Doëseb: “This problem must be addressed seriously as it disadvantages the players and the soccer lovers.As you know clubs are paying for players’ salaries, and the running costs of the club is very high, and the situation has forced some clubs to temporarily discontinue their training sessions.”The nation is being robbed of watching their favourite sport, said Doëseb, adding that this problem needs to be soon.Like Doëseb, Orlando Pirates owner, Hendrik Dawids does not worry much about what he stands to gain from investing in Pirates, saying the ‘Buccaneers’, as Orlando Pirates are also known, have a strong support base which necessitated him to invest in the team.According to him, he was requested from both Pirates’ officials and supporters to pump the much needed cash injection into the team and turning it into a commercial entity.LACK OF STADIUMS In ensuring that Pirates become a superpower locally, Dawids said he plans to buy a piece of land to construct a Pirates’ football stadium and a club house for its supporters.The Pirates boss also raised concerns with the four Katutura-based teams, who do not have soccer fields of their own, compared to their cross-town rivals Ramblers and SKW, who each own their own stadiums.Dawids, who is also the chairman of the NPL, said the time has come to professionalise Namibian football, but added that the contract signed by the NFA and the NFC prevents clubs from approaching sponsors of their choices.The contract only ends in 2010 and will possibly open up for clubs and even the NPL to enter into agreements with companies for sponsorships.He further said the idea of having clubs as public entities is now something of the past, because players were held hostage and ended up as beggars.Dawids, a former owner of now demoted Blue Waters, further added that big teams in the premier league are losing players to teams owned by individuals, noting that a change of attitude is needed.Civics owner Helmuth Scharnowski became the first man to commercialise a football team in the domestic league in October 2000.Civics won the coveted premier league title three times and have attracted a bulk of gifted players who strut their stuff in the senior national team.NampaHe said the lack of funds and sponsorships is the reason why teams like African Stars, Black Africa, Tigers and Oshakati City have no fields of their own, even though they have been around for many decades.However, Doëseb added that sponsorship from the private sector to premier league clubs can only be realised if teams have strategic plans that they can present when seeking sponsorships.”The NFA must institute a law that will require each premier league club to present a strategic business plan, because companies would like to know how their money is going to be spent,” said Doëseb.Doëseb decided to invest in Eleven Arrows from Walvis Bay because his business dealings are concentrated in the Erongo Region.Even though he is a Black Africa fan since childhood, Doëseb said he wants to help Eleven Arrows compete at continental level, but they first have to win the premier league title.Doëseb bought the team in 2007 and since then the club’s fortunes have changed, ending in the top five bracket of the elite league last season.He is not much worried about what he will personally benefit from the club, and only wants to see Eleven Arrows win the league, and compete in future Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League competitions.Namibia has the potential to have regional as well as world-class players, he said.”Many previous and current players and their followers are exposed to South African and English soccer, and thus have the likes of Jomo Sono, Lucas Radebe, Pele, and Thierry Henry as their role models.And that is wrong,” he said.Doëseb added that the most frustrating issue at the moment is the delay in the start of the 2008/09 football season, following the ongoing negotiations between the Namibia Football Association (NFA), Namibia Football Consortium (NFC) and the Namibia Premier League.Said Doëseb: “This problem must be addressed seriously as it disadvantages the players and the soccer lovers.As you know clubs are paying for players’ salaries, and the running costs of the club is very high, and the situation has forced some clubs to temporarily discontinue their training sessions.”The nation is being robbed of watching their favourite sport, said Doëseb, adding that this problem needs to be soon.Like Doëseb, Orlando Pirates owner, Hendrik Dawids does not worry much about what he stands to gain from investing in Pirates, saying the ‘Buccaneers’, as Orlando Pirates are also known, have a strong support base which necessitated him to invest in the team.According to him, he was requested from both Pirates’ officials and supporters to pump the much needed cash injection into the team and turning it into a commercial entity.LACK OF STADIUMS In ensuring that Pirates become a superpower locally, Dawids said he plans to buy a piece of land to construct a Pirates’ football stadium and a club house for its supporters.The Pirates boss also raised concerns with the four Katutura-based teams, who do not have soccer fields of their own, compared to their cross-town rivals Ramblers and SKW, who each own their own stadiums.Dawids, who is also the chairman of the NPL, said the time has come to professionalise Namibian football, but added that the contract signed by the NFA and the NFC prevents clubs from approaching sponsors of their choices.The contract only ends in 2010 and will possibly open up for clubs and even the NPL to enter into agreements with companies for sponsorships.He further said the idea of having clubs as public entities is now something of the past, because players were held hostage and ended up as beggars.Dawids, a former owner of now demoted Blue Waters, further added that big teams in the premier league are losing players to teams owned by individuals, noting that a change of attitude is needed.Civics owner Helmuth Scharnowski became the first man to commercialise a football team in the domestic league in October 2000.Civics won the coveted premier league title three times and have attracted a bulk of gifted players who strut their stuff in the senior national team.Nampa