Windhoek
Mali Ngarizemo, founder and owner of newly promoted MTC Namibia Premiership (NPL) outfit Young African Football Club says their promotion to the country’s flagship league is the beginning of bigger and better things for the Gobabis-based club.
Having narrowly failed to gain promotion to the NPL last season, Ngarizemo says this year’s success in the Southern Stream First Division League (SSFDL) was inspired by the struggles and tribulations of last season, thus both players and technical staff were equally determined to succeed at whatever cost.
“It was a very long journey, but the boys were determined and are inspired to be counted among the best in the NPL next season. Now that we have gained promotion to the NPL, hard work and even more hard work begins and we should prepare ourselves for the challenge ahead,” said Ngarizemo.
“We want to bring a new dimension to the NPL next season. That’s why we chose Gobabis as our home ground, as the aim is to take premiership football to that part of the country. We might not play all our home games in Gobabis, as we plan to rotate our home venues in various towns, depending on the quality and standard of the various fields in those towns. We just want to take the team and football to the people.”
Ngarizemo further called on companies operating in the vast Omaheke Region to come on board on contribute to the success of the club through financial and material support, which would go a long way in determining the longevity of the club in the NPL.
Blue Boys head coach Costa Linovene, who lost promotion to Young African on Saturday, had a bittersweet moment, but was quick to add that he was happy for Young Africans FC.
“I’m very happy for them and I only hope that they stay there [in the NPL] and not come back after next season, but I’m also confident that we will join them in the NPL in due course,” Linovene said.
Besides Young African, Otjiwarongo outfit and North West First Division champions Life Fighters were recently the first team to gain promotion to the NPL, while a winner in the North-East First Division winner is yet to be announced. Chief Santos or Benfica are the top favourites to join the other two.
Julinho Sporting, United Stars and Flamingoes are the three teams that were relegated to the first division over the weekend. – Additional info: Nampa