Schools league in dilemma

THE Central Schools’ Soccer Association (CSSA) is finding itself in a financial dilemma and is appealing to the business community for assistance.

The association, which provides for football development at 44 primary and 30 secondary schools, currently has no sponsor, as the previous two have withdrawn due to other pressing financial obligations. Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) and Namib Mills were the two main sponsors of the association for the past few years, but the two have since pulled out, diverting their interests to other business ventures.The administrator of the association, Jo Duwe, told The Namibian Sport yesterday that Namib Mills withdrew after realising that the league was not as popular as the annual Top Score Seven-A-Side tournament, which is held among companies at the beginning of each year.NBL, which according to Duwe was the last sponsor of the Pepsi League, has also shown little interest in further supporting the game at youth level after their being involved for over seven years.The two sponsors generally provided their assistance in kind and this consisted mainly of medals, trophies, soft drinks, football gear and transport costs, while the officials are conducting the activities on a voluntary basis.Namib Mills sponsored the Top Score Cup, which runs parallel with the league.The schools in the CSSA represent 189 teams, 21 of them girls’ teams, and some 3 700 youngsters in the age groups from under-nine to under-21 are involved.The football season for these schools runs between April and October each year.Duwe said the association was desperate to get a sponsor before the league starts next April.He said the Namibia Football Association (NFA) was not keen to invest in the association, while the Namibia Schools Sport Union (NSSU) also did not show much interest.The CSSA is an independent body and aims to develop football among school-going children at an early age.It was also called into life after it was realised that the NFA had no formal structures for youth development.Duwe said anyone is welcome to sponsor the association because they also want to expand it to other regions in future.”We have the experience and the expertise and we will be glad to expand the league to other regions, or we can simply offer our services to administrators to start similar leagues anywhere in the country,” he said.Interested sponsors can contact Duwe for more information at tel.(061) 24 3651 or fax (061) 24 3107.Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) and Namib Mills were the two main sponsors of the association for the past few years, but the two have since pulled out, diverting their interests to other business ventures.The administrator of the association, Jo Duwe, told The Namibian Sport yesterday that Namib Mills withdrew after realising that the league was not as popular as the annual Top Score Seven-A-Side tournament, which is held among companies at the beginning of each year.NBL, which according to Duwe was the last sponsor of the Pepsi League, has also shown little interest in further supporting the game at youth level after their being involved for over seven years.The two sponsors generally provided their assistance in kind and this consisted mainly of medals, trophies, soft drinks, football gear and transport costs, while the officials are conducting the activities on a voluntary basis.Namib Mills sponsored the Top Score Cup, which runs parallel with the league.The schools in the CSSA represent 189 teams, 21 of them girls’ teams, and some 3 700 youngsters in the age groups from under-nine to under-21 are involved.The football season for these schools runs between April and October each year.Duwe said the association was desperate to get a sponsor before the league starts next April.He said the Namibia Football Association (NFA) was not keen to invest in the association, while the Namibia Schools Sport Union (NSSU) also did not show much interest.The CSSA is an independent body and aims to develop football among school-going children at an early age.It was also called into life after it was realised that the NFA had no formal structures for youth development.Duwe said anyone is welcome to sponsor the association because they also want to expand it to other regions in future.”We have the experience and the expertise and we will be glad to expand the league to other regions, or we can simply offer our services to administrators to start similar leagues anywhere in the country,” he said.Interested sponsors can contact Duwe for more information at tel.(061) 24 3651 or fax (061) 24 3107.