Sport Comment: Creating a Profitable National Football Structure 

The present state of local football worries many stakeholders, including the corporate world, who have been hesitant to invest in the sport due to its poor administration.

The lack of proper governance, transparency and accountability within the Namibia Football Association (NFA) has resulted in a fragmented and disorganised football structure.

This has a negative impact on the development of the sport in the country.

To address these challenges, it is imperative to create a national soccer league that will be responsible for the administration of the Premier League, National First Division and the Women’s Super League.

A national soccer league will bring much-needed change to Namibian football by providing a well-managed and professional league structure.

It will also create a more attractive environment for corporate investment, which will contribute to the growth and development of football in the country.

It is time for the corporate world to demand the proper management of football in Namibia, before investing resources in the sport.

With a national soccer league, we can look forward to a brighter future for local football.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of the proposed league should be to create a professional and well-structured league that will be managed by a competent and independent board of governors.

This will aim to:

– create a more professional and competitive environment for football players and clubs, which will in turn improve the standard of football in the country,

– increase transparency and accountability by establishing a governing body independent from the NFA and focused solely on the administration of the league,

– encourage more corporate investment in football by providing a well-managed and organised league structure, and

– promote gender equality by including the Women’s Super League, giving women in football equal opportunities.

FUNDING AND STRUCTURE

The national soccer league will be primarily funded through sponsorships and partnerships with the private sector.

It will also generate revenue from broadcast rights, ticket sales, merchandise, and other commercial activities.

A percentage of the revenue generated will be distributed to the participating clubs to assist with their operations and development.

The proposed league will consist of three main leagues, namely the Premier League, National First Division and the Women’s Super League.

These leagues will be regulated by a board of governors made up of representatives from each division. The board will be responsible for the overall management and decision-making of the league.

The Premier League will consist of 16 teams, the National First Division will have 36 teams divided into three streams, and the Women’s Super League will have 12 teams.

All teams will participate in a promotion and relegation system, with the bottom teams being relegated and replaced by top-performing teams from the lower division.

The board will also establish a separate committee for each division, responsible for handling matters specific to their respective leagues, such as fixtures, finances, and disciplinary issues.

WAY FORWARD

To ensure the successful establishment of the national soccer league, the following steps need to be taken:

– Constitutional amendments: The NFA constitution needs to be amended to allow for the creation of this league with its board.

– Independent elections: The election of board members should be done independently from the NFA to ensure the board’s impartiality and credibility.

– Stakeholder consultations: All stakeholders, including clubs, players, and fans, should be consulted.

– Implementation: Once all the necessary preparations have been done, the national soccer league should come into effect at the beginning of the next football season, with a transitional period to allow for a smooth transition.

*Izak Fredericks is a football lover and coach, and was the first vice president of the Namibia Football Association.