LONG-suffering footballers and match officials will finally get a chance to get rid of the cobwebs that built up over the past two years this weekend.
Everyone is enthusiastic about the resumption of football in the country, following over two years in the doldrums, says Namibia Football Association (NFA) Referees coordinator Absalom Goseb.
Match officials are raring to get back on the pitches, Goseb yesterday said on the NFA’s website.
“People can finally start putting bread on their tables again,” he said.
Hopefully the legal battles and cold war will subside once the players remind administrators of the value of the most popular sport code in the world.
“It has been a while without football, but we have been keeping fit by training on a regular basis in the hope that one day we will receive great news, and that day has finally arrived. We are ready and glad that football is starting, and are hoping for the best on Saturday,” said new top-tier referee Vistoria Shangula.
The battle for supremacy in the debut Namibia Premier Football League starts in earnest at Mariental and Windhoek, while lower-tier clubs countrywide will get up to speed in the MTC NFA Cup preliminary round.
Tura Magic and Mighty Gunners will open group A action at Mariental Stadium tomorrow, followed by Eleven Arrows versus Tigers before Young African tackle Black Africa.
In Windhoek, Orlando Pirates against Citizens will get the ball rolling in group B at Sam Nujoma Stadium, after which Civics will face Blue Waters, and Young Brazilians will round off the contests against Julinho Sporting.
On Sunday, Julinho and Civics are first up, then YB will battle Pirates, with Citizens facing Blue Waters in the final match at Sam Nujoma Stadium.
At Mariental, the action starts with Young African and Eleven Arrows, followed by BA against Mighty Gunners, as Tigers and Tura Magic will renew rivalries in the concluding fixture.
Goseb vouched for his officials’ readiness, saying they have been thoroughly put through their paces in anticipation of the transitional season kick-off.
“We have been conducting elite referee refresher courses from 2020 and concluded this year. We also had a beginners’ course to identify young talent, as well as courses for local instructors. Through all this, we managed to cover and discover talent from all 14 regions,” Goseb said.
He said 15 referees have since been promoted to the elite league, bringing the total number of top-tier officials to 41 – 19 referees and 22 assistants.
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