The nine teams branded by MTC will be showcasing their new attire when the Namibia Premier League (NPL) returns to action from tomorrow. MTC handed playing gear to the nine teams as well as the 36 sides that compete in the three first-division streams at a ceremony held at Supporters Sport Bar in Suiderhof yesterday. Speaking at the event, MTC spokesman Tim Ekandjo said the company decided to make a ceremony of the handover in the hope of inspiring the teams to become more professional. “We made this a ceremony so that clubs can emulate the professionalism that comes with hosting such an occasion,” he said. “Thus we want to encourage them by our action.” Ekandjo added that while the company is largely happy to be associated with local football, it did find the dwindling numbers at local matches quite worrisome. “Sometimes when you see the numbers it is enough to make you as a sponsor cry… Thus we are challenging the clubs to find out what they did differently to attract new fans to their matches,” he stated. “We, as MTC, are ready to assist in ways clubs can attract fans, provided they are willing because there are cost-effective ways one can do so,” he added. For his part, NPL chairman Johnny Johnson Doeseb called upon clubs to show innovation in their attempts to attract more fans to their matches. “Innovation will be the only way [to] give mileage to the sponsorship [from MTC],” he said. Doeseb further said that since the decision to add another stream to the first division will allow the game of football to be played in all parts of the country, it is also the job of all the teams to help reignite the passion local fans used for have for the domestic game. “We must revive that passion [for football] in all parts of the country… And I can safely say is that with the new strategies we have in place, soon we’ll have a total change of thinking towards football,” he said. Funds for African journey Doeseb also announced that the NPL has committed itself to helping the two teams – African Stars and Black Africa - that will be competing in African club competitions this year. “I have always said that teams must compete in Africa and so, regardless of whether they are sponsored by MTC or not, we will give assistance to the two teams,” he said. BA, who will play in the CAF Champions League, and Stars, who will compete in the CAF Confederation Cup, will receive funding to the tune of N$200 000. “But since African Stars are sponsored by MTC, we are hoping to give them a little extra,” he promised. The nine NPL teams that received the kit are African Stars, Blue Boys, Blue Waters, Civics, Ramblers, Rundu Chiefs, Tigers, Tura Magic and United Stars. The 12 teams in each of the three first-division streams also got new playing gear while the referees, match officials and ball boys were similarly kitted out by MTC. WINDHOEK-HECTOR MAWONGA
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