Blue Boys returns to topflight football
Football
Swakopmund’s Blue Boys will join KK Palace (the Northwest Stream First Division winner) and Cuca Tops (the North East Stream First Division winner) as promoted clubs to the upcoming season of the Namibian Premier Football League (NPFL). The general secretary of the Namibian Football Association (NFA), Charles Siyauya, announced that the coastal-based club, that finished as runners-up, has been promoted and will compete in the Namibia Premier Football League (NPFL) instead of Namibia Correctional Service FC, the winner of the Southern Stream First Division (SSFD).
“The promotion of Namibia Correctional Service would result in the contravention of Rule 1.1 and Rule 4.7 of the NFA Rules and Regulations, because Khomas Nampol Football Club is already a member of the NPFL. Blue Boys is therefore promoted to the NPFL, to avoid a breach of the mentioned rules,” Siyauya explained.
History repeats
It is not the first time that this scenario played out.
The Military School Okahandja FC won the Northwest First Division League in 2018 and could not be promoted because the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) already owned a team that competed in the Namibia Premier League, namely Mighty Gunners.
The NDF, as the owner of Military School Okahandja FC, subsequently transferred ownership of the club to the Okahandja community. Since then the club has competed under the new ownership and name of Okahandja United FC.
Ready for action
Elton Katangolo, chairperson of Blue Boys, said the club had three objectives to be achieved over three years.
“We earned promotion, increased the visibility of our brand and community participation in one season.
“We are geared for the upcoming season. Training commenced on 30 July and we will have our AGM to outline our next objectives soon. Staying in the Premier League and ensuring our CAF compliance as a club will be amongst the top priorities.”
According to Katongolo the core of the player squad will be retained. “Our supporters are over the moon. We appreciate their understanding, support and patience. We will strengthen some aspects of our squad and new players are welcome to attend our weekly training sessions at Mondesa field.”
Blue Waters chairperson Temba Nghitaunapo welcomed the decision by the NFA.
“The rules are clear and should be respected. The same applies to Blue Waters and Blue Birds. We are very happy. It is a good thing to have two clubs from the coast in the Premier League and we now have a partner to travel with.
“We also hope Eleven Arrows will join us soon to further enhance the competitiveness of our soccer at the coast.”
Relegated clubs
Orlando Pirates (to the SSFD), Okakara Young Warriors and Life Fighters (both to NWSFD) have been relegated from the Premier League to the First Division.
Davos, DTS, Oshikuku Young Stars, Touch & Go, Black Hawks and Omuthiya United have been relegated to the Second Division.
Zonal playoffs
According to Siyauya, the clubs to be relegated from the second division to the third division / social leagues and the clubs to be promoted to the Nationwide First Division Streams from the second division leagues is not yet ready be announced.
“This is mainly due to some of the second divisions/social leagues not concluding their leagues as directed. The clubs that are crowned Regional Second Division champions in their leagues will participate in the zonal play-off to determine the clubs to be promoted to the Nationwide First Division and the clubs that will remain in the Regional Second Division leagues,” Siyauya said.
The NFA will announce the dates and venues of the zonal promotion play-offs in due course. The NFA will also issue the rules governing the method to be used to promote clubs to the NWSD and the clubs that will remain in the regional Second Division leagues.