Namibia Football Association (NFA) communication, marketing and sponsorship manager Isack Hamata says the 2024/25 football season kick off has not been confirmed.
Speaking on Desert Radio recently, Hamata said the NFA executive council still has to endorse the start of the season.
This was in response to the NFA informing its members, in writing, that the new campaign would commence this weekend.
In the leaked letter authored by NFA secretary general Charles Siyauya on 18 October, he informs the NFA members that the Namibia Premier Football League (NPFL), the Women’s Super League (WSL), nationwide first division, plus the regional second and third divisions “will commence on 2 November”.
He also said the registration period would be extended to run until yesterday.
“I stand on record to say that the NFA is very sorry that the letter found its way in the public domain,” said Hamata.
“What I can say is there is a date in mind, but we really just want to be on the side of caution.
“We will only express ourselves on the exact date once we have crossed the highest hurdle that we need to cross at the moment, which is our engagement with the sponsor,” Hamata explained.
“Once we have crossed the T’s and the dotted lines, we will then make the announcement with regard to the way forward, including when the league will be launched for the coming season.”
There is a strong desire for all leagues to start the new season at the same time to avoid the pitfalls of previous years, Hamata said.
Discussions around the autonomy of the NPFL, which is a prerequisite for Debmarine Namibia renewing its sponsorship, are also part of the reasons the season’s kick off is delayed.
“There are a number of issues and key activities that must be taken care off. One of the commitments is that after the 2025/26 football season, the NPFL will be a stand alone league,” said Hamata.
“There is an action plan that after the 2024/25 football season, the league becomes autonomous and clubs have endorsed that. That is where we are right now.”
Once the NPFL becomes autonomous and is relinquished from the NFA’s leadership, the national football body will focus its mandate on the lower football leagues, women’s football and general football development in the country.
“Subsequent to the letter, there was a candid, open and frank meeting with the 16 clubs addressed by NFA president Robert Shimooshili,” Hamata said.
“In that meeting, Shimooshili said the NFA is committed to the autonomy of the NPFL. The commitment is there for the NFA to ensure that it relinquishes the management of the affairs of the NPFL in the coming season.”
“But there are a number of hurdles that need to be crossed, issues that need to be taken care off as contained in the letter,” said Hamata.
He said the letter from the sponsor sought commitment from the NFA with regard to those four conditions that were listed in the letter.
“There are genuine conditions and concerns that the sponsor expressed and they are being addressed,” said Hamata.
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