As the Namibia Premier Football League (NPFL) kicks off today, Unam FC head coach Robert Nauseb expects a tough start to the campaign.

Reflecting on last season’s performance, he said his team finished sixth, which fell short of their target.

“Our aim was to finish in the top three, and that remains our ambition this season. The squad looks good, and we have no injury concerns at the moment. We’re ready and looking forward to our first game against FC Ongos, it will definitely be a tough encounter,” Nauseb said.

Tomorrow’s fixtures also promise plenty of action, with Young African set to face Tigers in one of three matches on the day. 

Head coach of the Gobabis-based Young African, Maleagi Ngarizemo, admitted that preparations have been challenging but remains optimistic about his side’s readiness.

“It hasn’t been easy, but we managed to stay on top in most of our sessions. Preparing for the league is different from CAF competitions, and we had a short turnaround after a two-week break when it looked like the league might not start on time. We’ve accepted the challenge and used this week to prepare for our opening game. Our goal is to perform well and qualify for CAF competitions again this year, we want that consistency,” he said.

He added that his team is in good shape with all players available and a few new additions. “We’ve brought in two to three new faces for the season, and I am eager to see how they fit in during this first match,” he said.

Reigning champions African Stars will begin the season looking to defend their title, while last season’s runners-up Young African and third-placed Khomas Nampol will aim to close the gap.

Meanwhile, the Namibia Football Association (NFA) has confirmed the league’s prize structure for this season. The champions will pocket N$850 000, with the runner-up receiving N$420 000. The third-placed team will earn N$320 000, followed by N$230 000 for fourth place and N$180 000 for fifth.

Teams finishing sixth to 10th will also receive financial rewards. Sixth place will earn N$160 000, seventh N$140 000, eighth N$120 000, ninth N$100 000, and 10th N$80 000, giving every team extra motivation to perform throughout the campaign.