The Namibia Premiership, or the Debmarine Namibia Premiership for sponsorship reasons, is the highest level of domestic association football in Namibia. It operates under the auspices of the Namibia Football Association.[1]
 | |
| Organising body | Namibia Football Association |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2020 |
| First season | 2022–23 |
| Country |  Namibia |
| Confederation | CAF |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | First Division |
| Domestic cup(s) | Namibia FA Cup |
| International cup(s) | CAF Champions League CAF Confederation Cup |
| Current champions | African Stars (2) |
| Most championships | African Stars (2) |
| Current: 2024–25 Namibia Premiership | |
History
editAfter ongoing financial and organizational problems with the Namibia Premier League (NPL), the Namibia Football Association expelled the league and founded a new top-flight league themselves following the 2018–19 season.[2][3]
Despite a planned debut season in 2021, the league finally played its first season in 2022-23 after securing major sponsorship funding.[1] Originally called the Namibia Premier Football League, the league was renamed the Namibia Premiership with the significant sponsorship of N$13 million provided by Debmarine.[4][5]
Following the 2023–24 season, the Namibia Football Association addressed the long-time issue of clubs with shared ownership competing in the same league. Beginning with the 2024–25 season, the practice would no longer be allowed. The debate had begun a season earlier with Mighty Gunners and Military School Okahandja, both operated by the Namibian Defence Force, set to compete in the Premiership. The issue was solved with the sale and rebranding of the club to Okahandja United. The issue arose again in summer 2024 when Khomas NAMPOL and Namibia Correctional Service were set to compete in the top-flight. Because of the new policy, Namibian Correctional Service FC were not promoted and were replaced by First Division South runners-up Blue Boys.[6]
Clubs
edit
| 2024–2025 Namibia Premiership | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| African Stars | Katutura | Sam Nujoma Stadium | 10,300 |
| Blue Boys | Swakopmund | Mondesa Stadium | 2,000 |
| Blue Waters | Walvis Bay | Kuisebmund Stadium | 4,000 |
| Citizens | Windhoek | Sam Nujoma Stadium | 10,300 |
| Eeshoke Chula Chula | Oshikango | Oshakati Independence Stadium | 8,000 |
| Civics | Khomasdal | Khomasdal Stadium | 2,000 |
| Cuca Tops | Rundu | Rundu Sports Stadium | 500 |
| Julinho Sporting | Rundu | Rundu Sports Stadium | 500 |
| Khomas NAMPOL | Windhoek | UNAM Stadium | 3,000 |
| KK Palace | Ondangwa | Oshakati Independence Stadium | 8,000 |
| Mighty Gunners | Otjiwarongo | Mokati Stadium | 1,000 |
| Okahandja United | Okahandja | Nau-AIB Stadium | 1,000 |
| Ongos SC | Windhoek | Sam Nujoma Stadium | 10,300 |
| United Africa Tigers | Windhoek | Sam Nujoma Stadium | 10,300 |
| UNAM | Windhoek | UNAM Stadium | 3,000 |
| Young Africans | Gobabis | Legare Stadium | 5,000 |
| Young Brazilians | Karasburg | Karasburg Stadium | 1,000 |
Champions
edit| Season | Champion | Runners-up | Top Scorer(s) | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23[7] | African Stars | Blue Waters | Willy Stephanus[8]
|
African Stars | 20 |
| 2023–24[9] | African Stars | Ongos Valley | Willy Stephanus[10] Rewaldo Prins[11]
|
African Stars Khomas NAMPOL |
16 |
| 2024–25 |
References
edit- ^ a b "From Premier League to Premiership: Namibian top-flight league faces turbulence". FIFA. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ "Namibia football starts new chapter. Southern Times, 11 December 2020". Archived from the original on 13 December 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ ""Homeless" NPL refuses to yield. The Namibian, 22 December 2020". Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Debmarine Namibia Premiership". Namibian Football Association. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Premiership Action Returns Courtesy of Denmark e". Namibia Economist. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Tuerijama, John. "NFA addressing sister clubs in one league". The Namibian. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ Stokkermans, Karel. "Namibia 2022/23". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ Kambukwe, Maurice. "Stars lift Debmarine Premiership trophy… Oshaala FC, Eleven Arrows, Citizens relegated". New Era. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ Schöggl, Hans; Stokkermans, Karel. "Namibia 2023/24". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Munango, Brian. "Stars Back to Back Champions". The Namibian Sun. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Benjamin happy with players' movement abroad". New Era Live. Retrieved 15 July 2024.