Changes in league fees

WINDHOEK – The delayed kick-off of the Premier League 2007/08 soccer season is now something of the past, following the official launch of the new season yesterday.

The league, which was due early this month, had to be delayed because of negotiations between the Namibia Premier League (NPL)’s clubs and the Namibia Football Consortium (NFC) on the clubs’ start-up capital. The new soccer season kicks off on Friday.Traditionally, elite clubs receive N$25 000 each as start-up capital, which was never enough to cater for their expenditure.Namibia Football Association (NFA) acting Secretary General Barry Rukoro announced that each team will now receive N$10 000 a month for the next 10 months following successful negotiations between the clubs and the football consortium.He said this amounts to a 300 per cent increase in the clubs’ funding – up to N$75 000 for the season.Rukoro further announced that the payment of referees was increased from N$100 to N$250 per match.First Division teams will now also receive N$10 000 as start-up capital compared to the usual N$500 per team.The Second Division outfits will receive nothing, as the funds could not cater for changes at that level.”No improvement were made at the second-division level,” said Rukoro.The Premier League (NPL) prize money for the top six teams was not increased.The winning team of the 2007/08 season will pocket a cool N$500 000.NampaThe new soccer season kicks off on Friday.Traditionally, elite clubs receive N$25 000 each as start-up capital, which was never enough to cater for their expenditure.Namibia Football Association (NFA) acting Secretary General Barry Rukoro announced that each team will now receive N$10 000 a month for the next 10 months following successful negotiations between the clubs and the football consortium.He said this amounts to a 300 per cent increase in the clubs’ funding – up to N$75 000 for the season.Rukoro further announced that the payment of referees was increased from N$100 to N$250 per match.First Division teams will now also receive N$10 000 as start-up capital compared to the usual N$500 per team.The Second Division outfits will receive nothing, as the funds could not cater for changes at that level.”No improvement were made at the second-division level,” said Rukoro.The Premier League (NPL) prize money for the top six teams was not increased.The winning team of the 2007/08 season will pocket a cool N$500 000.Nampa