NFA Faces Funding Crisis, Withdraws U17 Team from COSAFA and Appeals for Government Support
The Namibia Football Association (NFA) has acknowledged serious financial difficulties affecting its national teams, including outstanding player payments, accommodation costs and the withdrawal of the Under-17 team from an international competition.
During a media briefing at Football House on Thursday, the association provided an update on the financial challenges facing Namibian football, while also explaining how it utilised the N$7.5 million government grant recently allocated towards national team activities.
The NFA confirmed that it had received N$7.5 million from the government but explained that the funding was insufficient to cover all its financial obligations. The association said its financial position had deteriorated significantly, noting that government support had dropped from approximately N$40 million last year to virtually nothing before the recent N$7.5 million allocation.
According to the association’s expenditure report, N$7,471,153 of the government grant had been spent, leaving a remaining balance of N$28,847.
The breakdown shows that the money was used for various national team expenses, including international travel, accommodation-related logistics, catering, medical supplies, visas, match preparations and administrative costs.
The largest payments included N$2.5 million to Blue Berry Travel for the Brave Warriors’ flight tickets and N$2,209,596 to FloTravel and Tours for flight tickets for the Under-20 and Under-23 teams, as well as match officials.
Another N$400,000 was paid to FloTravel and Tours towards the Brave Warriors’ travel arrangements for the Cameroon fixtures, while N$500,000 was allocated to the national team’s home match expenses in Botswana.
Other payments included N$203,396 for Brave Warriors medical supplies, N$111,894.48 for players’ and technical officials’ visas, N$89,355 for national team camp catering and N$247,250 in audit fees paid to Saunderson & Co.
The NFA further explained that its original submission to the government for national team expenses amounted to N$18 million. Of this amount, the association said it had already covered N$4.3 million using its own resources, leaving an outstanding requirement of approximately N$14 million.
The association indicated that it was prepared to submit supporting documents and a detailed financial report to the minister’s office to account for the government allocation.
Players’ outstanding payments
The financial challenges have also affected payments to national team players.
The NFA confirmed that outstanding appearance fees and winning bonuses from previous matches against Russia and the Republic of Congo remain a concern. The two recent Cameroon fixtures will also add to the outstanding appearance fees.
However, the association’s executive has resolved to release payments relating to the Comoros match, which had previously remained unpaid. The NFA confirmed that the funds had been released to the individual accounts of players currently in camp in Cameroon.
Cameroon assistance and U17 withdrawal
The association also addressed the recent hotel payment difficulties involving the Brave Warriors in Cameroon, explaining that it had approached the Cameroon Football Federation for assistance.
The two federations subsequently entered into an agreement under which the Cameroonian federation would cover the accommodation-related costs on behalf of the NFA, with Namibia expected to reimburse the money once it is financially able to do so.
The financial situation has also forced the NFA to withdraw its Under-17 national team from the COSAFA competition in Mozambique. According to the association, participation would have required approximately N$950,000, an amount it could not afford.
The NFA expressed concern that its financial limitations were preventing young Namibian footballers from participating in important international competitions.
NFA calls for government support
The association maintained that supporting national teams should not be the responsibility of the NFA alone, arguing that national teams represent the entire country and therefore require collective support, including from the government.
It also highlighted the difficulties in accessing international football development funding through FIFA programmes, explaining that Namibia’s stadium situation remains a major obstacle to meeting certain funding requirements.
The NFA further revealed that it currently has commercial sponsorship arrangements with Namcot for its products and FNB for the Women’s Super League, but does not have a dedicated sponsor for its national teams.
Despite the financial difficulties, the association said it remained committed to fulfilling its responsibility of keeping Namibia’s national teams active in international competitions.
It believes that continued participation provides local footballers with opportunities to showcase their abilities, secure contracts with bigger clubs abroad and contribute to the country’s economy.
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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