From the Sidelines: Clubs need moremoney

THERE is a potential war in the business of sponsoring football in general among the ones who are involved in it.

It might just be too late to rescue the situation if all parties do not find a consensus soon. The current football agreement between the Namibia Football Consortium (NFC) and the Namibia Football Association (NFA) basically shuts out any clubs to clinch financial deals with other companies, specifically when it comes to a conflict in the products they all sell.Last week, Ramblers announced a deal with Kingsley, a soft-drink company, and this has made the NFC extremely upset, as Ramblers fall under the auspices of both the Namibia Premier League and the NFA, with whom the NFC has a five-year deal.The problem is that the products that Kingsley sells to consumers are in direct competition with the ones sold by the Namibia Breweries Limited, one of the three partners within the NFC.This problem was foreseen at the time when the contract was signed by the NFA and NFC, and the football bosses at the time thought that they had no choice but to enter the into the deal, because the NFA needed money to fund its activities.There is nothing wrong with the NFC/NFA deal as a whole, but the clause that prohibits companies with the same products of entering into joint ventures or deals with premiership clubs is a big problem.Firstly, everybody knows that most premiership clubs do not have adequate financial means to credibly sustain and run the teams and this has been the case for years.Players of many clubs do not get rewarded, but only in some cases when they win major cup tournaments or when they win the championship.Ramblers in this case at least compensates its players, but what about a club like Golden Bees or Friends who do not have a strong financial backing.Most are being sustained by the officials and also live on bank overdrafts which leave them in the red season after season.My argument is simple.The NFC should be more reasonable and sensible to allow clubs to get financial or material backing from any competitor of the NFC.This will bolster their empty coffers and make them more self-sustainable.The NFC, through the NPL, gives at least N$20 000 to each club as start-up capital at the start of each season, but this has proven to be peanuts, especially considering the costs teams incur when travelling to fulfil their league obligations.I would suggest that the NFC amend the clause in the agreement to open up to others to come in, but should find a way that will make the other companies not to overshadow their long-standing deal with football.Kingsley should for example be allowed to sell a certain amount of its products at the playing venues and their branding can be minimised to only the playing gear and there should be no advertising boards of the said product.The NFC should simply try to work out a way that will see teams benefit from the other put cash on the table without compromising their position as the premier sponsors of football in the country.This happens everywhere in the world.I know it might be difficult for the NFC to restrict a company to advertise its products, but I am sure they can find a way to work in partnership.There is no club in this country that does not aspire to become financially sustainable and professional enough and sponsors, be they in direct competition with the NFC, would also want to be associated with the game.The NFC has done well to sustain the game in the country, but it will be an added bonus if they are unselfish in letting others get involved to set the ball rolling towards making the game more professional.Although the contract still stands until after two and a half seasons with the NFA, it will be good if possibilities can be looked into in expanding the brand of the game by letting more money flow into it, especially on club level.The NFC will also have a lesser financial burden if clubs are allowed to source own funding, while the players will be well off since they would be managed more professionally.My message is for the consortium and the NFA to think in the best interest of the clubs, but not only how to make money in promoting their products by using football as the vehicle to do that.Football should be used as the vehicle for ultimately producing quality players, quality leagues, strong national teams and well-managed clubs which should strive for competitiveness and self reliance.The current football agreement between the Namibia Football Consortium (NFC) and the Namibia Football Association (NFA) basically shuts out any clubs to clinch financial deals with other companies, specifically when it comes to a conflict in the products they all sell.Last week, Ramblers announced a deal with Kingsley, a soft-drink company, and this has made the NFC extremely upset, as Ramblers fall under the auspices of both the Namibia Premier League and the NFA, with whom the NFC has a five-year deal.The problem is that the products that Kingsley sells to consumers are in direct competition with the ones sold by the Namibia Breweries Limited, one of the three partners within the NFC.This problem was foreseen at the time when the contract was signed by the NFA and NFC, and the football bosses at the time thought that they had no choice but to enter the into the deal, because the NFA needed money to fund its activities.There is nothing wrong with the NFC/NFA deal as a whole, but the clause that prohibits companies with the same products of entering into joint ventures or deals with premiership clubs is a big problem.Firstly, everybody knows that most premiership clubs do not have adequate financial means to credibly sustain and run the teams and this has been the case for years.Players of many clubs do not get rewarded, but only in some cases when they win major cup tournaments or when they win the championship.Ramblers in this case at least compensates its players, but what about a club like Golden Bees or Friends who do not have a strong financial backing.Most are being sustained by the officials and also live on bank overdrafts which leave them in the red season after season.My argument is simple.The NFC should be more reasonable and sensible to allow clubs to get financial or material backing from any competitor of the NFC.This will bolster their empty coffers and make them more self-sustainable.The NFC, through the NPL, gives at least N$20 000 to each club as start-up capital at the start of each season, but this has proven to be peanuts, especially considering the costs teams incur when travelling to fulfil their league obligations.I would suggest that the NFC amend the clause in the agreement to open up to others to come in, but should find a way that will make the other companies not to overshadow their long-standing deal with football.Kingsley should for example be allowed to sell a certain amount of its products at the playing venues and their branding can be minimised to only the playing gear and there should be no advertising boards of the said product.The NFC should simply try to work out a way that will see teams benefit from the other put cash on the table without compromising their position as the premier sponsors of football in the country.This happens everywhere in the world.I know it might be difficult for the NFC to restrict a company to advertise its products, but I am sure they can find a way to work in partnership.There is no club in this country that does not aspire to become financially sustainable and professional enough and sponsors, be they in direct competition with the NFC, would also want to be associated with the game.The NFC has done well to sustain the game in the country, but it will be an added bonus if they are unselfish in letting others get involved to set the ball rolling towards making the game more professional.Although the contract still stands until after two and a half seasons with the NFA, it will be good if possibilities can be looked into in expanding the brand of the game by letting more money flow into it, especially on club level.The NFC will also have a lesser financial burden if clubs are allowed to
source own funding, while the players will be well off since they would be managed more professionally.My message is for the consortium and the NFA to think in the best interest of the clubs, but not only how to make money in promoting their products by using football as the vehicle to do that.Football should be used as the vehicle for ultimately producing quality players, quality leagues, strong national teams and well-managed clubs which should strive for competitiveness and self reliance.