NFA Soccer Project-2008 has the sole purpose of preparing the U-23 National Team of Namibia for the 2008 African Games Qualification AND the Olympic Games Qualification in China. The idea is to initiate a Year-long Preparation Programme for the U-23 National Team of Namibia for the 2008 African Games Qualification AND the Olympic Games Qualification Matches. The question that arises is: why the U-23 National Team?

Comparative analogy internationally indicates that the U-23 National Team has the greatest developmental potential since its pool of players is closest to the Senior National Team. As a matter of fact, the Namibian experience is that the U-23 National Team of the early 1990’s eventually secured Namibian’s qualification in the 1998-African Cup of Nations. Therefore, a repeat of that experience will in the long run be instrumental in our participation at Continental and International competitions such as African Games, Olympic Games, African Cup of Nations and the 2010 World Cup.

The current international trend is that the U-23, because of its developmental potential, is seen as viable option for future successful participation for the National Team at International Level. Due to the absence of undue public pressure, and the fact that, once a good selection has been made, the team remains compact for at least five years, is a great advantage. U-23 National Team of the early 1990’s U-23 National Team of the early 1990’s has reference here. For example, the players of yesteryear (R. Mannetti, R. Nauseb, M. Ouseb, R. Kanalelo, Q. Jacobs) have all matured into top professional players since the early days of 1990. The Namibian U-23 team of the early 1990’s matured into qualification of the Senior National Team for the 1998 African Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso. Period!

The trend internationally is to concentrate, as far as development and possible future success is concerned, on the U-23 National Team. Brazil and South Korea are prime examples in this regard.

That’s the reason why the U-23 of Brazil, in the last Copa-America (South American version of Africa Nations Cup of Nations), only used Barcelona’s Ronaldhino as the only current national team player during those games. The rest was from U-23, which is groomed for the 2010 World Cup, and they envisaged that, all things being equal, only Ronaldhino might be included for the 2010 World Cup.

In the case of South Koreas, at the 2003 Four-Nations Cup in RSA, their U-23 National Team, has been camping have been taken on South American, European and African expedition for the Asian Games, Olympic Games, Asian Cup of Nations and the 2010 World Cup.

Clearly, the above examples and reasons are motivation to Namibia undertaking an initiative of its own in line with the current international trend. In addition, the attached National results of the 2002/03 from the Office of the NFA indicates that the U-23 has been the only team consistently winning matches during that soccer season.

This proposal is designed as a first step by Namibians to take a proactive step to assist the NFA with its efforts to take National Soccer to higher levels and improve our ratings in the long run

This initiative has now been approved and it is currently preceded by a one year long fundraising campaign spearheaded by the Technical Committee of the U-23 National Team. A programme of activities has been put into place.

Administrative and political support has been given to this initiative by the office of the President of the NFA, Mr. P.T. Damaseb as well as the office of the Secretary General (SG) of the NFA, Mr. A. Gaweseb. The SG as the Chief Accounting Officer, will play an important role during the fundraising effort and the eventual foreign tour which is planned for Brazil in 2005.

Apart from the above support, the plan is that a selected group of volunteers (members of the Technical Committee of the u-23 National Team) shall take care of the whole process.

The idea is that the NFA will be totally exempt from the financial and human resources burden of this proposed programme of preparing the U-23 National Team. Thus, it is envisaged that there will be no financial and human resources implication for the NFA. At best, it will be tasked with supervising and advising i.e. providing support and overall leadership to this initiative.

An independent Trust will be formed for this initiative with the members of the Technical Committee of the u-23 National team acting as trustees. The sole beneficiary of this Trust will be the u-23 National team. The Trust will have it’s own bank account through that all income and all expenditures will be channeled. An independent accounting firm will be appointed as accountants of the Trust. A copy of the draft trust deed is attached as an annexure to this document.

4. Period of Activity

It will be between 01 August 2004 to 01 July 2005 with the tour taking place in August 2005. It will then proceed in accordance with the schedule of African Games and the Olympic Qualifier towards the end of 2005.

This initiative will go a long way in heralding new fortunes for the technical development of Namibian Football. It falls within the framework of the FIFA supported NFA programme of Youth Development which is expected to culminate into a major competitive participation in 2008.