Willy Stephanus Returns to Golden Boot Race with Brace on NPFL Opening Weekend
Namibian football star Willy ‘Awilo’ Stephanus has made a strong start to the 2026/27 Namport Namibia Premier Football League (NPFL) season, reminding football fans of his goal-scoring quality after netting a brace in African Stars FC‘s opening match against UNAM FC.
African Stars began their title defence with a 2-1 victory over UNAM FC at the UNAM Stadium on Saturday, 7 November 2026, with Stephanus scoring both goals to secure all three points for the defending champions.
The two goals have placed the experienced forward among the early leading goalscorers of the new campaign, level on two goals with Ndonga Junior Chimbi and September Charles Jovane of Bucks Buccaneers FC.
Both Bucks Buccaneers players also opened their scoring accounts with braces during their impressive 6-1 victory over Khomas NAMPOL FC at the Independence Stadium.
Stephanus is no stranger to the Golden Boot race, having established himself as one of the most consistent goalscorers in Namibian top-flight football in recent years.
The African Stars forward enjoyed a remarkable 2022/23 campaign, finishing as the league’s leading goalscorer with 20 goals.
He successfully defended his achievement in the 2023/24 season, scoring 16 goals to claim the Golden Boot for a second consecutive season. He shared the award with Rewaldo Prins of Khomas NAMPOL, who also finished with 16 goals.
His scoring achievements placed him among the standout attacking players in the country’s top-flight competition.
Stephanus was not part of the NPFL’s 2025/26 Golden Boot race for much of the campaign after moving abroad.
In September 2025, he joined Saudi Arabian Second Division side Hetten FC after leaving African Stars.
The move provided him with an opportunity to test himself in a different football environment. He made an encouraging contribution, recording six goals and eight assists in 16 matches.
However, his stay in Saudi Arabia came to an end after the club’s new coach brought in another foreign player, leaving Stephanus outside the team’s foreign-player plans.
He subsequently returned to African Stars in January 2026, where he made an immediate impact upon his return.
His return to Namibian football has once again brought him into the spotlight, and his opening-weekend performance suggests that he remains a player to watch in the new campaign.
While the race for the 2026/27 Golden Boot has only just begun, the recognition and rewards given to individual performers in Namibian football remain an important subject.
Stephanus previously raised concerns about the lack of individual rewards after winning the Golden Boot in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons without receiving an award for either achievement.
In June 2024, he told New Era that he had not received recognition for his goalscoring achievements, expressing disappointment over the lack of incentives for players who perform consistently throughout the season.
For Stephanus, the immediate focus will be helping African Stars defend their league title. However, after opening his campaign with two goals, he has already placed himself among the early contenders for another Golden Boot title.
About the Author
Karrel Hamutenya is a senior sports journalist at The Updated World, with more than five years of experience reporting on local sport in Namibia and international sports news.His work covers match reports, transfer updates, and exclusive interviews with athletes, providing fans with deeper insight into the game and the people behind it.
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