Various coaches in the Debmarine Premiership have expressed satisfaction with the league’s start while sharing their goals for the upcoming 2024/25 football season, which roars into life this month. 

Earlier this month, Debmarine and the Namibia Football Association (NFA) announced that the league would start at the end of this month. 

The diamond mining company also revealed that they have extended their support for the local game, committing N$18 million for the 2024/25 football season. 

The news has left players and coaches with mixed feelings, but most are overwhelmed with excitement. 

New Era Sport spoke to top-flight league coaches, who shared their teams’ readiness and what they hope to achieve this season. 

In a brief interview, Ali Akhan, who recently joined newly-promoted coastal outfit Blue Boys, said he is happy that the league is finally returning. 

He said for the new season, he hopes to survive their first season. 

“It’s a new team with less e x p e r i e n c e d players, so I believe we don’t have any complicated goals  league,” he stated. 

“Our team comprises players in the first division, and we hope to beef it up next year when the transfer window opens. But our priority is to ensure we survive relegation,” he said. 

Meanwhile, premier league-winning coach Woody Jacobs, who joined the Shandumbala-b a s e d outfit at the end of the 2023/24 season, said he is grateful for the sponsors injecting money into the league, as many individuals make a living from football. 

On his ambitions for this year, he said “We have good players – and our preparations have been going well so far despite losing two of our pre-season matches, but it showed us how much and where we need to improve. This season, our goal is just to stay in the league. I believe we can win the league, but some teams have had better preparation than us, including resources. But we are competing this season,” he added. 

African Stars are the defending champions of the league. 

Head coach Ronnie Kanalelo said “We have not stopped with our training since the league ended. We’ve been training, and you know what defending champions do – that’s what we are going to demonstrate this season by successfully defending our title in the premier league,” he added. 

– mkambukwe@nepc.com.na