Africa-Press – Namibia. WOMEN’S football will be a success story with the support of First National Bank (FNB) Namibia, says the Namibia Football Association (NFA) women’s desk.
The revamped 14-team FNB Women’s Super League (WSL), which was last contested in the 2018/19 season, will kick off this weekend.
“The Namibian nation should be looking forward to quality, competitive and exciting football,” the organisers said.
Last week, FNB announced that they agreed to pay N$7,5 million in sponsorship towards the WSL over a period of three years.
“The NFA has worked so hard to get to this point in women’s football. Last year we trained coaches and administrators from all 14 regions to prepare them for the league. I believe it will be a great year for women’s football, especially with FNB on board,” said NFA women’s football chairperson Monica Shapwa.
Women’s football has long lacked a substantive backer to elevate it, until FNB Namibia came on board, NFA women centre manager Jacqueline Gertze said.
The WSL affords the many youngsters who have come through the nationwide grassroots programme a much-needed platform to showcase and enhance their talent.
“Youth football is now being played in 12 of the 14 political regions, catering to the under 13 to 17 age category players under the Galz and Goals project. If there is no super league or an enabler, no sponsor, where will these girls go?
“We need to develop women’s football aggressively at youth level. Out of the 267 000 adolescent girls living in Namibia, between 10 000 to 30 000 are active in the youth and girls development programme,” said Gertze.
The NFA has previously been widely criticised for not decentralising football, with most initiatives confined to the capital region. The expanded league includes Okahandja FC and Ongwediva FC in its roster.
“I believe that the addition of these two clubs will help generate the much-needed national interest and attention we need,” said Shapwa.
Gertze said the Galz and Goals project, and now the FNB sponsorship, enables the NFA to broaden projects and diversify the player pool.
“The last women’s super league was played with 10 clubs, with the majority of players coming from other regions. Because elite players moved where there is football,” said Gertze.
“It was encouraging as those players had scholarships to enrol at the University of Namibia (Unam), Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) and the Namibian Defence Force, and were recruited by clubs who took care of the players until they graduated into the respective senior clubs.”
The organisers confirmed that the FNB WSL fixtures scheduled for Windhoek will be played at the NFA Technical Centre, opposite the Katutura Magistrate’s Court.
In the first encounter on Saturday, defending champions Tura Magic Ladies will face Right Way FC, followed by Beauties FC versus Okahandja FC.
Nust Babes then take on V-Power Angels, before the last match of the day between Nampol Ladies and Girls & Goals concludes the action.
At the Oshakati Stadium, Ongwediva FC host Ramblers Women FC, while the Omaheke Queens from Gobabis welcome Unam Bokkies at Legare Stadium.
Coastal side, Namibia Daughters will play their home match at the Mondesa Stadium against Arrows Ladies FC.
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