Scharnowski sees potential in Namibian football, despite slow investment

CIVICS chairman and president Helmuth Scharnowski argues that Namibian football still needs much more investment to become fully professional, while there is a huge potential for the players to make it to top leagues across the world, but only if they get the correct guidance and are disciplined.

The Namibian’s CORRY IHUHUA spoke to Scharnowski on the phone from Germany this week, after he was honoured with a Special Award last Friday by the Namibia Premier League (NPL) for his contribution, leadership qualities and development to football in Namibia. In his conversation with this reporter, Scharnowski (60) spoke passionately about his vision for the local game, especially on premiership level and how he wants all to be involved to turn it into a fully fledged professional entity. His emphasized the importance of investments in the game, quality of play in the league, the national team and the level of professionalism in the game overall. He says as much as he appreciates the efforts by current football sponsors such as MTC and the Government, including several others and the general business community, he still thinks much more needs to be done on that front.He suggest that premiership teams should be able to sell their clubs in such the way that it is irresistible for companies to see a need to invest in them.’The moment teams are well organised and have structures and facilities in place, it will be easier for the league to attract even bigger sponsorships and turn it into a professional set-up. What I am saying is that teams have to adopt a professional approach in how they deal with their business, and that can ultimately positively influence the league which in turn will be even better organised,’ he said.EARLY DAYSScharnowski took over Civics in 2001 and since then, the club has won three premiership titles (2006, 2007, 2008) and also competed in three African Champions League (2004, 2006 and 2007) round matches. They club is possibly the most successful among the youngest teams in the premiership since its formation in 1983.In total, they have won nine domestic cup competitions and ended as runners-up eight times, with only one third place since they joined the premiership in 2001. Scharnowski attributed the success of the team to a strict work ethic, focus and a high level of discipline among the players and the management at the side.He says he never compromises on the objectives and goals of the club and has instilled a sense of responsibility and cooperation among all his players, technical and support staff at the club, which is run from 19 Akwamaryn Street in Eros.Scharnowski was born in Flensburg (Germany) on April 20, and was bitten by the coaching bug from the early 1980’s when he led TSG Scheersberg of Kreisliga in the Lindesliga in Germany.After several other coaching stints in Germany and in Europe, Scharnowski arrived in Namibia in 2000 with a mission to coach a football team, but to also help with the social upliftment of talented youngsters by providing them with opportunities through sport.Among his priorities was to identify gifted footballers and export them to European leagues.A clear example is Civics frontman Heinrich Isaacks who had a stint in the Danish Super League with Elite Sport Sonderjysk.At the moment, Scharnowski has four players with him in Germany – who are set to attend trials with various clubs in the next few days. They are Isaacks, Eslin Kamuhanga, Bradley Wermann and Pineas Jacob. All were part of the Civics squad that this season ended second in the premiership after champions African Stars.Since 2001, Scharnowski has made inroads into the local domestic scene and was also the first club president to introduce wages for his players. Civics was also the first team to provide accommodation, transport and all the basic needs to its players in an attempt to get them onto a professional path. He succeeded in that by surrounding himself with a competent staff and his investments into the game over the years earned him great respect from the local authorities and in the southern African football community.FOOTBALLQUALITYScharnowski thinks the quality of Namibian football has improved over the past two to three seasons.’There are a lot of exciting teams in the league. You can also see that a lot of clubs have improved tremendously and can even go further than that next season. The competition among the teams has improved vastly and I think it is a good sign as it will also raise the level of our game at the national level,’ he said.He says the playing field in the premiership also needs to be leveled and that can only be achieved if more sponsors come on board to carry these teams.’I know about teams who are really struggling financially and are put at the same level of the wealthy teams and have to compete for the same honours despite the lack of resources. It is unfair to them and I think it will be worthwhile for the business sector to give a helping hand in whatever way they can. Teams can market themselves by presenting viable business plans to get the attention of any potential sponsor,’ he said. Scharnowski also argues that football is for the whole nation and companies just need to be convinced to get involved and ‘they too have to consider it as a national duty and a viable investment.’He said the current financial crisis will not remain and looks ahead to better times that can ultimately alleviate the current hardships in the game.’I know we will get there within the next few years. I am positive and confident that there will be a better future for Namibian football,’ he added.THE LEAGUEThe Civics owner also thinks that the premiership is in an ideal position to link up with foreign leagues for exchange programmes and partnerships to improve the administration thereof.’We cannot work in isolation. There must be ways we can learn and improve our systems from the ones who are in the business of running football for a long time now. I am however confident that the current administration under Johnny Doeseb can bring about change and I just hope that he will get the necessary support to achieve his noble goals for the league.He argues that it is crucial for the league to have competent and professional people who must strive to run it as problem-free as possible.’The league has to start on scheduled dates and time. The competitions and matches should correlate with those of the national teams to avoid clashes and conflicts. The clubs must know what is required from them and should adhere to the rules and regulations of the league. The league need to be firm and fair in its rules and there must be no favouritism at all,’ he said.He added that once the league appoints competent professionals who are not biased, they will be able to run the affairs of the body without fear or favour. ‘That is what we need if we want to have professionalism in our league. I also think that once we have such people, the league will be better advertised and marketed because we need to sell the game of football to the business community for investment and we must show the Government, that we are serious in what we do for them to provide a helping hand in times of difficulty,’ he said.DEVELOPMENT AND NATIONAL TEAMSScharnowski believes that the development of players at an early age is inevitable for any nation to have strong and competitive national teams.He says although his side Civics failed to have their youth development side going for a year now, he aims at reviving that again as he wants players from that to feed the senior clubs.He says the various junior national teams must not have a problem of finding players as they are supposed to automatically emerge from the youth teams managed by the teams.The NPL authorities are looking at compelling each team to have a development side in their ranks for next season and Scharnowski says that it will be a good move.’Namibia has players who are hungry for football and with youth teams in each club, it will be easier to monitor their progress and eventually see them going through the national rank,’ he said.On the Brave Warriors, he said he hoped that the new management of the team will strive to maintain a good record with the playing systems they have since brought into play.’I cannot comment much on the team as it needs time to grow because its is still in the development stage,’ he said.THE FUTUREScharnowski says the biggest target for him within the next five years is to first see a fully-fledged professional league in Namibia.He says by that time, he also wants to see many Namibian players making a living for themselves through football locally and internationally and that most of them serve as role models for the young ones.He said he wants to see the national team in the top 80 ranking in the world, while he wants to see them among the top five teams on the African continent.’This can all be achieved if we all work together, have a common vision and purpose. We just need to focus, be disciplined and we must organise ourselves first before we ask for help in any assistance. That message is especially for the premiership teams which I believe can grow, become self sustainable, professional and successful,’ he said.corry@namibian.com.na