• Sport

Footballers and clubs barely hanging on

• 2 Days Ago

The uncertainty surrounding football in the country has prompted most clubs to stop paying players’ salaries. Some clubs, however, have negotiated to pay only a training allowance for now, with significant reductions to wages. Those still managing to pay small salaries are unsure how long they can maintain the payments before their funds run dry.



At present, there is no clear indication of when the football league will start. The country’s top-flight competition currently has no sponsor after former backers Debmarine Namibia withdrew. Debmarine initially came to the league’s rescue during the 2022–2023 season, spending an aggregate of about N$50 million up to the completion of the 2024–2025 campaign.



However, the company has now come under financial pressure due to the downturn in the diamond-mining sector. Demand for natural diamonds has decreased amid the rise of lab-grown stones, as well as falling prices, which have impacted the company’s growth. Lower production has resulted in subdued financial performance and a 38% drop in revenue during 2024.



Owner of Okahandja United FC, Congo Hindjou, confirmed that his team has not even started training because there has been no indication of when the league will resume.

“We are not paying the players because there is no confirmation that the league will start anytime soon.

“We do not even train because that means we would have to pay the players for their time.

“We do not want to risk having players train because it also means we have to pay for stadiums and many other things,” Hindjou said.



Khomas Nampol also confirmed through a source that they are currently not paying players. Most of the squad are employed by the Namibian Police Force and therefore still receive salaries from their main employment.

“I understand that the force will only negotiate with the players for payments once there is certainty.

“At the moment I can confirm that the team is training in order to keep ourselves busy until we are able to start paying,” the source said.



These are also the sentiments of other clubs in the league. An owner who chose to remain anonymous said his club has no income and is therefore unable to pay its players.

“I can confirm that my football club is also not able to honour any payments to the players.

“We know that there is no football activity and no promise of any sponsors coming on board.

“That is why the club is not able to sustain the players right now until there is news that the league will start and a sponsor has been secured,” the owner said.



Blue Waters chairman Mathias Haufiku said they are paying players who are under contract with the club, but not in full due to restricted income.

“The problem is that we might lose these players if we fail to pay their salaries because we have contracts to honour.

“We have, however, agreed that we are not able to pay them the full amounts because we know that there are no funds coming from the NFA or sponsors at the moment.

“There are sponsors that are willing to join but they will not come on board until they are sure that football will start,” Haufiku said.



Bucks Buccaneers chairman Disco Naruseb confirmed that his club is currently paying 40% of salaries to the players.

“We are currently paying 40% of salaries to the players at the moment, which is just a training fee.

“As chairman of the club, it is important to always try and find income to pay the players,” Naruseb said.