First division gets into gear

FIREWORKS are expected this weekend as the Southern Stream First Division League gets into gear after a lengthy delay.

The delay was caused by the non-availability of start-up capital as well as a disciplinary hearing that resulted in Invincible being demoted to the second division due to match fixing. The non-availability of the start up capital had also threatened a smooth start to the league, but this problem has since been resolved after all teams received N$10 000 this week.League administrator Tovey //Hoebeb confirmed that all the teams had been given their money.”I can confirm that all the teams have now received their start-up capital and this weekend’s fixtures have been sent to all the teams and so the ball should start rolling this weekend”, Hoebeb said.Speaking at a SSFD members meeting held at the NFA Soccer House over the weekend, chairman Willie Swartz announced that there will be some changes this season.He said in case two teams are tied on points at the end of the season, the winner will be decided on the basis of the head-to-head results.He added: “This decision was taken as a result of the rampant cheating in our football and this (head-to-head results) is seen as the best way of arresting the problem of match fixing that has become synonymous with football in the lower leagues.”In settling for the head-to-head results the NFA is following in the footsteps of some of Europe’s elite leagues such as the Spanish La Liga.Asked what will happen if the two teams will still not be separated after taking the head-to-head results into consideration, Swartz said that the league would then be decided by way of playoffs that will be held at a neutral venue.Because of the NFA’s failure to find a replacement for Invincible, the Southern Stream First Division will now see only 11 teams competing for the sole ticket to the Namibia Premier League (NPL) next season.In fact, there are three new comers, Monitronic College who won promotion from the Khomas Region Second Division, Young Beauties from the Karas Region Second Division as well as Namib Woestyn of Walvis Bay who bought a franchise from the now defunct Bee Bob Brothers of Mariental.Hotspurs, who almost got promoted to the NPL last season, will get the season underway when they travel to Mariental to face Black Marocco Chiefs (BMC) in a match in which the Windhoek based side is expected to take full points.At the same time, Zambezi United which was inconsistent last season, will be hoping to give Namib Woestyn a baptism of fire when they travel to the coast.In another match pencilled for Mariental, newcomers Monitronic College, who recently signed three Nigerian players, are expected to shoot down Flying Eagles who finished on 10th position last season.The two meet late in the afternoon at the Mariental Stadium.Desert Rollers and Nampol will round up the day’s proceedings on Saturday in a Gobabis derby at the Legare Stadium – a match that can go either way.The non-availability of the start up capital had also threatened a smooth start to the league, but this problem has since been resolved after all teams received N$10 000 this week.League administrator Tovey //Hoebeb confirmed that all the teams had been given their money.”I can confirm that all the teams have now received their start-up capital and this weekend’s fixtures have been sent to all the teams and so the ball should start rolling this weekend”, Hoebeb said.Speaking at a SSFD members meeting held at the NFA Soccer House over the weekend, chairman Willie Swartz announced that there will be some changes this season.He said in case two teams are tied on points at the end of the season, the winner will be decided on the basis of the head-to-head results.He added: “This decision was taken as a result of the rampant cheating in our football and this (head-to-head results) is seen as the best way of arresting the problem of match fixing that has become synonymous with football in the lower leagues.”In settling for the head-to-head results the NFA is following in the footsteps of some of Europe’s elite leagues such as the Spanish La Liga.Asked what will happen if the two teams will still not be separated after taking the head-to-head results into consideration, Swartz said that the league would then be decided by way of playoffs that will be held at a neutral venue.Because of the NFA’s failure to find a replacement for Invincible, the Southern Stream First Division will now see only 11 teams competing for the sole ticket to the Namibia Premier League (NPL) next season.In fact, there are three new comers, Monitronic College who won promotion from the Khomas Region Second Division, Young Beauties from the Karas Region Second Division as well as Namib Woestyn of Walvis Bay who bought a franchise from the now defunct Bee Bob Brothers of Mariental.Hotspurs, who almost got promoted to the NPL last season, will get the season underway when they travel to Mariental to face Black Marocco Chiefs (BMC) in a match in which the Windhoek based side is expected to take full points.At the same time, Zambezi United which was inconsistent last season, will be hoping to give Namib Woestyn a baptism of fire when they travel to the coast.In another match pencilled for Mariental, newcomers Monitronic College, who recently signed three Nigerian players, are expected to shoot down Flying Eagles who finished on 10th position last season.The two meet late in the afternoon at the Mariental Stadium.Desert Rollers and Nampol will round up the day’s proceedings on Saturday in a Gobabis derby at the Legare Stadium – a match that can go either way.