Namibia First Division Explained

Country:Namibia
Confed:CAF
Founded:2006
Teams:26-39
Promotion:Namibia Premiership
Relegation:Regional Second Division
Levels:2

The First Division is the second-tier association football league in Namibia. It operates under the auspices of the Namibia Football Association.

Organization

The First Division is divided into the Northern Stream (NSFD) and the Southern Stream (SSFD), each consisting of 13 teams from their respective regions.[1] [2] For some seasons the Northern Stream has been divided into separate North East and North West streams.[3]

The Northern Stream includes clubs from the Zambezi,Kavango East, Kavango West, Oshana, Omusati, Kunene, Otjozondjupa, Ohangwena, and Oshikoto regions.[1]

The Southern Stream includes clubs located in Khomas, Omaheke, Erongo, Hardap, and Karas regions.[2]

Promotion and relegation

The winners of both the Northern and Southern Streams are promoted to the Namibia Premier Football League. The three lowest placed teams from each stream are relegated to the Regional Second Division.[1]

History

The league began operating under the now-defunct Namibia Premier League for the 2006/07 season.[3] In 2021 the league returned from a hiatus of over three years caused by troubles at the NFA and the COVID-19 pandemic. For this special transitional tournament, the league was divided into four streams: Southern, Coastal, Inland, and Central.[4] [5]

Champions

Season Stream
Northern Southern
2006/07[6] Windhoek HotspursFedics United
2007/08[7] Chief Santos
2008/09[8] United StarsBlue Waters
2009/10[9] Mighty GunnersBlue Boys
2010/11[10] United StarsMonitronics Success College
2011/12[11] Rundu Chiefs[12] Tura Magic[13]
2012/13[14] United StarsBlue Boys
Northwest NortheastSouthern
2013/14[15] BenficaTouch & GoCitizens
2014/15[16] Young ChiefsRundu ChiefsFlamingos
2015/16[17] Life Fighters[18] Chief Santos[19] Young African
2016/17[20] Unknown
2017/18[21] Military School OkahandjaJulinho SportingYoung Brazilians
2018/19[22] Unknown
2019/20[23] Not held
2020/21[24]
2021/22[25]
2022/23[26] Okakarara Young WarriorsEeshoke Chula ChulaKhomas NAMPOL
2023/24[27] KK PalaceCuca TopsNamibia Correctional Service

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Northern Stream First Division . Namibia Football Association (NFA) . 19 July 2021.
  2. Web site: Southern Stream First Division . Namibia Football Association (NFA) . 19 July 2021.
  3. Web site: Hembapu . Otniel . FNB could divert sponsorship to First Division…as NPL agreement lapses . Neweralive.com . 19 July 2021.
  4. Web site: Hembapu . Otniel . First Division football returns . New Era Live . 19 July 2021.
  5. Web site: Kaurasia . Jesse Jackson . First Division Resurrected . 24 May 2021 . Namibian Sun . 19 July 2021.
  6. Web site: Courtney . Barrie . Namibia 2006/07 . . 19 July 2021.
  7. Web site: Mücke . Mark . Namibia 2007/08 . . 19 July 2021.
  8. Web site: King . Ian . Mücke . Mark . Namibia 2008/09 . . 19 July 2021.
  9. Web site: King . Ian . Mücke . Mark . Namibia 2009/10 . . 19 July 2021.
  10. Web site: King . Ian . Namibia 2010/11 . . 19 July 2021.
  11. Web site: King . Ian . Namibia 2010/11 . . 19 July 2021.
  12. Web site: First Division Football Comes to an End . Namibia Economist . 11 July 2023.
  13. Web site: Nikodemus . Sheefeni . Chiefs, Magic Plot NPL Assault . The Namibian . 11 July 2023.
  14. Web site: Schöggl . Hans . Stokkermans . Karel . Namibia 2012/13 . . 19 July 2021.
  15. Web site: King . Ian . Schoggl . Hans . Stokkermans . Karel . Namibia 2013/14 . . 19 July 2021.
  16. Web site: Schöggl . Hans . Stokkermans . Karel . Namibia 2014/15 . RSSSF . 9 July 2023.
  17. Web site: Schöggl . Hans . Stokkermans . Karel . Namibia 2015/16 . RSSSF . 9 July 2023.
  18. Web site: Young African Gains Promotion . 26 April 2016 . The Namibian Sun . https://web.archive.org/web/20230514111458/https://www.namibiansun.com/news/young-african-gains-promotion . 11 July 2023. 2023-05-14 .
  19. Web site: All three 'Chiefs' relegated from NPL … promotions still undetermined . New Era . 11 July 2023.
  20. Web site: Stokkermans . Karel . Namibia 2016/17 . RSSSF . 9 July 2023.
  21. Web site: Schöggl . Hans . Stokkermans . Karel . Namibia 2017/18 . . 19 July 2021.
  22. Web site: Stokkermans . Karel . Namibia 2018/19 . . 19 July 2021.
  23. Web site: Schöggl . Hans . Namibia 2019/20 . . 19 July 2021.
  24. Web site: King . Ian . Schöggl . Hans . Namibia 2021 . RSSSF . 9 July 2023.
  25. Web site: Schöggl . Hans . Namibia 2022 . RSSSF . 9 July 2023.
  26. Web site: Stokkermans . Karel . Namibia 2022/23 . RSSSF . 9 July 2023.
  27. Web site: Uulumbu . Castro . Cuca Tops Secure Premier League Promotion After 22-year Absence . Namibian Broadcasting Corporation . 5 July 2024.