NPL not happy with N$1 million allocation

THE Namibia Premier League says it will object to a sponsorship deal between the Namibia Football Association and the Namibia Football Consortium under which it stands to receive only N$1 million a year for all its activities.

The NFA and the NFC are expected to sign the deal soon. It provides for total football sponsorships of N$8 million a year over the next five years.NPL chairman Anton van Wyk said the N$1 million earmarked for the NPL was not enough, as they had to pay referees, security personnel and stadium fees.He said according to the NPL’s own calculations, they should get N$3,6 million a year to run the league without incurring debts.He said clubs needed start-up capital each year, and this took a large slice of the NPL’s yearly allocation from the NFA.”This is not enough.We totally object to that and we have requested them to reconsider their position on this,” he told The Namibian Sport yesterday.The NPL had to see the 2004/2005 season through with only N$573 000, while clubs had to fork out N$927 000 for expenses such as referees’ payment, security personnel and stadium fees.He said most of the N$573 000 they received from the association last season went to clubs as start-up capital, while they also had to budget for cash prizes for league winners.He said the league would need even more to allow it to move into a semi-professional direction.”We need to have our own competitions and we are looking at hosting the Champs of Champs, Top Eight and the League Cup”, he said.It provides for total football sponsorships of N$8 million a year over the next five years.NPL chairman Anton van Wyk said the N$1 million earmarked for the NPL was not enough, as they had to pay referees, security personnel and stadium fees.He said according to the NPL’s own calculations, they should get N$3,6 million a year to run the league without incurring debts.He said clubs needed start-up capital each year, and this took a large slice of the NPL’s yearly allocation from the NFA.”This is not enough.We totally object to that and we have requested them to reconsider their position on this,” he told The Namibian Sport yesterday.The NPL had to see the 2004/2005 season through with only N$573 000, while clubs had to fork out N$927 000 for expenses such as referees’ payment, security personnel and stadium fees.He said most of the N$573 000 they received from the association last season went to clubs as start-up capital, while they also had to budget for cash prizes for league winners.He said the league would need even more to allow it to move into a semi-professional direction.”We need to have our own competitions and we are looking at hosting the Champs of Champs, Top Eight and the League Cup”, he said.