Warriors worried over pay

THE Brave Warriors technical team averted a player revolt ahead of their African Nations Cup match against Ethiopia at the weekend after players demanded an increase on their usual appearance fee of N$2 500 per player.

The players, led by senior midfielder Robert Nauseb, demanded that the Namibia Football Association (NFA) increase the match fee that they have been receiving for the past 15 years to at least N$3 000, but coach Ben Bamfuchile and his assistant coaches handled the matter in a professional manner. Nauseb, who led the group of mostly senior players which included George Hummel, Collin Benjamin, Quinton Jacobs and Richard Gariseb, requested that the NFA increase their appearance fee or they would not play the match.Bamfuchile yesterday confirmed to The Namibian Sport that the players were unhappy with the current appearance fee.The players complained that they are receiving the same amount as their junior counterparts in the under-20 and under-23 sides, although some of them have played for the national team for years.Bamfuchile said the players were made to understand that things cannot be changed overnight and that the players should also understand the precarious financial situation the NFA finds itself in.”We told them that the issue will be taken up with the authorities and a promise has been made that it will be looked into.We have so far informed the Secretariat,” he said.Namibian football players and administrators have over the years been at loggerheads over money problems.The players’ biggest concern is that their appearance fees are sometimes reduced without their consent, especially during the Cosafa Castle Cup, where players are guaranteed of a specific amount from the tournament sponsors, whether they win a match or not.The other major concern of especially the foreign-based players is that the NFA fails to arrange transport for the players from and to the airport when they are involved in international matches.Jacobs, who now plays in Norway, had to endure transport problems when he arrived and before he left for his team yesterday.His business manager, Collin April, threatened that he would ask Jacobs to stay put at his club if the NFA failed to provide basics such as transport for him in future.Bamfuchile said, however, that there was no guarantee at this stage that there would be an increase during their next match, saying that it depends on the various stakeholders such as the Government and the Namibia Football Consortium’s budgets.”These people have budgets and have so far only made provision for that amount to the players and as practice, they need to go back and look at their budgets before making further commitments,” he said.Government alone forks out a total of N$3,5 million each year only to be used on the various national teams, with the senior team the biggest beneficiary.There is no clear-cut amount from the NFC to the national sides, but players are also believed to be receiving daily allowances of about N$60 per player while in camp.The NFC has poured in N$40 million into football to be used over five years and there is currently a danger that the NFA stands to lose at least N$1 million because the league did not start on time.Namibian national team players are some of the lowest paid in southern Africa.South Africa leads the pack in the region with a player in the national team receiving N$20 000 per match.For a win, they get a further N$10 000, while they receive N$5 000 on top of the N$20 000 for a draw.The South African under-23 side gets N$4 000 as appearance fee per player and a further N$2 000 for a win, or N$1 000 for a draw.South Africa’s national team is sponsored by Castle Lager and Vodacom, while the under-23 side is backed by Sasol.Nauseb, who led the group of mostly senior players which included George Hummel, Collin Benjamin, Quinton Jacobs and Richard Gariseb, requested that the NFA increase their appearance fee or they would not play the match.Bamfuchile yesterday confirmed to The Namibian Sport that the players were unhappy with the current appearance fee.The players complained that they are receiving the same amount as their junior counterparts in the under-20 and under-23 sides, although some of them have played for the national team for years.Bamfuchile said the players were made to understand that things cannot be changed overnight and that the players should also understand the precarious financial situation the NFA finds itself in.”We told them that the issue will be taken up with the authorities and a promise has been made that it will be looked into.We have so far informed the Secretariat,” he said.Namibian football players and administrators have over the years been at loggerheads over money problems.The players’ biggest concern is that their appearance fees are sometimes reduced without their consent, especially during the Cosafa Castle Cup, where players are guaranteed of a specific amount from the tournament sponsors, whether they win a match or not.The other major concern of especially the foreign-based players is that the NFA fails to arrange transport for the players from and to the airport when they are involved in international matches.Jacobs, who now plays in Norway, had to endure transport problems when he arrived and before he left for his team yesterday.His business manager, Collin April, threatened that he would ask Jacobs to stay put at his club if the NFA failed to provide basics such as transport for him in future.Bamfuchile said, however, that there was no guarantee at this stage that there would be an increase during their next match, saying that it depends on the various stakeholders such as the Government and the Namibia Football Consortium’s budgets.”These people have budgets and have so far only made provision for that amount to the players and as practice, they need to go back and look at their budgets before making further commitments,” he said.Government alone forks out a total of N$3,5 million each year only to be used on the various national teams, with the senior team the biggest beneficiary.There is no clear-cut amount from the NFC to the national sides, but players are also believed to be receiving daily allowances of about N$60 per player while in camp.The NFC has poured in N$40 million into football to be used over five years and there is currently a danger that the NFA stands to lose at least N$1 million because the league did not start on time.Namibian national team players are some of the lowest paid in southern Africa.South Africa leads the pack in the region with a player in the national team receiving N$20 000 per match.For a win, they get a further N$10 000, while they receive N$5 000 on top of the N$20 000 for a draw.The South African under-23 side gets N$4 000 as appearance fee per player and a further N$2 000 for a win, or N$1 000 for a draw.South Africa’s national team is sponsored by Castle Lager and Vodacom, while the under-23 side is backed by Sasol.