Debmarine Namibia Premier League champions African Stars announced on Friday the acquisition of Ongwediva Queens from the FNB Women's Super League and Ongwediva United from the Oshana Regional Football League second division. 

These teams will be renamed African Stars Queens and Okaserandu Stars, respectively.

Salomo Hei, chairman of African Stars, stated the goal is to revolutionise Namibian football by integrating it into broader development strategies. 

“The addition of Ongwediva Queens and Ongwediva United strengthens our leadership position in African football, and builds on our successful integration efforts. 

This merger demonstrates our commitment to transforming Namibian football,” he said. 

Hei emphasised that African Stars is building a national project to provide every Namibian child the opportunity to compete at the highest level of club football. 

“Women’s football is a crucial part of the future of international football, and the biggest brand should be part of this ecosystem,” he added.

Chairman of Oshana Regional Football and Ongwediva Queens, Phillip Dala, said the merger is a move in the right direction – and that with Stars' involvement, the clubs will be a force to be reckoned with.

Recently, Stars confirmed they will play a pre-season match against Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs in July. 

During a visit to the Kaizer Chiefs village, Hei met with the club’s founder, Kaizer Motaung, and other staff members to discuss the upcoming match and potential collaborations.

“Yes, the pre-season match is still very much on the cards. Chiefs are playing Young Africans in the Toyota Cup, and we would love to host them. We have a significant number of Namibians in South Africa, and we aim to expand the Stars’ brand across borders,” Hei said. 

He also mentioned the possibility of player exchange programmes as part of their collaboration efforts.

Hei’s visit to Chiefs also focused on learning about the principles and strategies that have helped the club maintain high standards on and off the field. 

The meeting aimed to strengthen relationships between the clubs, and to learn from the successes of Chiefs and Tanzanian club Young Africans.

“As the biggest team in Namibia, it is vital for us to learn from successful teams, and expand our brand to South Africa. Understanding the strategies implemented by Chiefs and their current position is crucial for our growth,” Hei noted. 

-lmupetami@nepc.com.na