NPL to create over 1 000 jobs
The Namibia Premier League (NPL) Board of Governors (BoG) recently held a policy meeting in Mariental, where several issues were discussed and resolved by the 10 founding members of the envisaged professional league.
A media statement made available to Nampa yesterday, states the BoG discussed the constitution and several amendments were then proposed.
These amendments are benchmarked against other professional leagues in the world.
“The constitution is now being scrutinised by legal experts to affect the amendments, before adoption at the next NPL Congress,” the statement reads.
It further states that the NPL business plan outlines the activities of the NPL, which aims to be self-sufficient after three years and includes partnerships and sponsorships for both tiers of professional leagues to be operated.
The NPL business plan comprises of prize monies, operating costs of league tiers, member clubs, sponsorships funding, broadcasting rights and brand equity, the statement explained.
“The aim of the NPL is to establish a professional football industry where members can earn a minimum basic wage that is comparative to the current market. This will be achieved by ensuring that the NPL and its member clubs are registered as corporate entities that must adhere to corporate governance,” the statement further said. The NPL says it wants to increase the Sports Index percentage from 2%, as prescribed by the fifth National Development Plan and the Harambee Prosperity Plan II in terms of professionalisation of sports by 2022.
The professional leagues want to create more than 1 000 jobs directly, and a multiplier effect will be felt in other sectors like transport, hospitality, retail, finance, insurance, health and fitness.
The BoG also adopted the Confederation of African Football club licensing method, and a Club Licensing Committee was appointed after the 10 founding member clubs of the NPL agreed to essential requirements for registration by the member clubs on 30 November 2021, with the NPL.
“Club licensing is an essential building block of any professional league. The BoG adopted certain deliverables by member clubs with tangible timelines to be adhered to. The BoG resolved to extend an invitation to the three non-founding member clubs who were not relegated (Tigers, Mighty Gunners and Julinho),” the statement added.
The meeting also looked at a road map where all member clubs present agreed to comprehensive but strict timelines to get the league active as soon as practically possible.
The 10 founding clubs are African Stars, Black Africa, Eleven Arrows, Life Fighters, Okahandja United, Tura Magic, Citizens, Young Brazilians, Blue Waters and the University of Namibia.