Windhoek
MTC Chief Human Capital and Corporate Affairs Officer Tim Ekandjo last night announced a N$14.6 million sponsorship of the 2015/16 football season.
The new deal, with 2015 officially marking the final year of MTC’s three-year financing of the Namibia Premier League (NPL), sees the annual amount jump from the almost N$13.5 million sponsored by the company last season.
Despite the uncertainty over the immediate future of the country’s topflight football, since it is MTC’s last year as headline sponsor, rumours have it that MTC could go into another deal with the NPL, with negotiations expected to start this month already.
Speaking during the official launch that was screened live on NBC TV last night, NPL chairman Johnny ‘JJD’ Doeseb reiterated his call for corporate companies to join hands and take local football to greater heights.
“MTC alone is not enough to carry the needs and demands of football; that’s why I’m calling on the corporate world to join the football family and make their contribution, especially our government. Government has a role to play and we will this season make sure they are fully involved with the development of football in all regions, especially our lower leagues,” said Doeseb.
Doeseb also announced that MTC, the NPL and national broadcaster NBC would soon ink an agreement that would see at least two league matches screened live, with the hope of taking the game closer to the people.
He maintained that teams would this season still play double headers, insisting that currently it’s the only practical cost-cutting measure.
On his part, Ekandjo called for accountability and the continuous striving for excellence within the NPL leadership, saying that accountability, transparency and excellence are MTC’s core values.
Ekandjo further extended a warm thank you to other sponsors such as Bidvest Namibia, Standard Bank, Skorpion Zinc Mine, among others, for choosing the people’s game and urged them to remain in football.
Weekend Fixtures
Today, September 11 2015
Orlando Pirates vs Tura Magic at Independence Stadium (20h00)
Saturday, September 12 2015
Civics vs Unam at Independence Stadium (16h00)
African Stars vs Mighty Gunners at Sam Nujoma Stadium (13h30)
Tigers vs Citizens at Sam Nujoma Stadium (13h30)
Julinho Sporting vs Young Chiefs at Rundu Sports Stadium (13h30)
United Stars vs Rundu Chiefs at Rundu Sports Stadium (16h00)
Blue Waters vs Black Africa at Kuisebmond Stadium (13h30)
Eleven Arrows vs Black Africa at Kuisebmond Stadium (16h00)
Sunday, September 13 2015
Civics vs Tura Magic at Sam Nujoma Stadium (13h30)
Orlando Pirates vs Unam at Sam Nujoma Stadium (16h00)
Tigers vs Mighty Gunners at Independence Stadium (14h00)
African Stars vs Citizens at Independence Stadium (16h00)
United Stars vs Young Chiefs at Rundu Sports Stadium (12h30)
Julinho Sporting vs Rundu Chiefs at Rundu Sports Stadium (15h00)
Eleven Arrows vs Flamingoes at Kuisebmond Stadium (12h30)
Blue Waters vs Black Africa at Kuisebmond Stadium (15h00)