Namibia First Division

Last updated
Founded2006
Country Namibia
Confederation CAF
Number of teams26-39
Level on pyramid2
Promotion to Namibia Premier Football League
Relegation to Regional Second Division

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

Contents

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

SeasonStream
NorthernSouthern
2006/07 [6] Windhoek Hotspurs Fedics United
2007/08 [7] Chief Santos Windhoek Hotspurs
2008/09 [8] United Stars Blue Waters
2009/10 [9] Mighty Gunners Blue Boys
2010/11 [10] United Stars Monitronics Success College
2011/12 [10] Rundu Chiefs [11] Tura Magic [12]
2012/13 [13] United Stars Blue Boys
NorthwestNortheastSouthern
2013/14 [14] Benfica Touch & Go Citizens
2014/15 [15] Young Chiefs Rundu Chiefs Flamingos
2015/16 [16] Life Fighters [17] Chief Santos [18] Young African [17]
2016/17 [19] Unknown
2017/18 [20] Military School Okahandja Julinho Sporting Young Brazilians
2018/19 [21] Unknown
2019/20 [22] Not held
2020/21 [23]
2021/22 [24]
2022/23 [25] Okakarara Young Warriors Eeshoke Chula Chula Khomas NAMPOL
2023/24 [26] KK Palace Cuca Tops Namibia Correctional Service

    Related Research Articles

    The Bhutan Super League, previously known as the Thimphu League and Bhutan A-Division, was the men's football league in Bhutan. Until 2012, it was the lone national top division. Between 2013 and 2020, it was played as the second division and the qualifier for the Bhutan Premier League.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">SV Racing Club Aruba</span> Football club

    Sport Vereniging Racing Club Aruba, known as SV Racing Club Aruba or RCA, is an Aruban football club based in Solito, Oranjestad, which currently play in Aruban Division di Honor, the nation's top-level league. As of 2019, they had won 16 titles since the league's creation under the auspices of the Arubaanse Voetbal Bond in 1960.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">TAFIC F.C.</span> Football club

    Tati African Football Independent Club also known as TAFIC for short, is a football club based in Francistown, Botswana. The team was relegated from the Botswana Premier League to the First Division North in 2014. Nicknamed Matjimenyenga, after a stream, which runs behind the low-income locations of Maipaafela and Kgaphamadi. The club motto: "Undipe ndi kupe". The club was founded in 1959 as a breakaway from the then popular TAFA football club. Information has it that the founders of TAFIC, which was initially known as Sharp Shooters in its formative years, were based at Kgaphamadi. They gained promotion back to the elite league as champions in the 2016/17 season but were subsequently relegated the very next season. They are currently playing in the Botswana Premier League.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Sea FC</span> Association football club in Eritrea

    Red Sea Football Club is an Eritrean professional football club based in Asmara. They compete in the Eritrean Premier League, the top division of Eritrean football. With 13 league titles, they are the most successful club in the country.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Angthong F.C.</span> Thai football club

    Angthong Football Club is a Thai professional football club based in Ang Thong Province. The club is currently playing in the Thai League 3 Western region.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Druk Stars FC</span> Association football club in Bhutan

    Druk Stars Football Club, sometimes referred to as Druk Star, was a Bhutanese football club from Thimphu. The team have won the national championship twice and competed in the A-Division from 2002, when they won their first title, through to 2010, having won a second title in 2009. They were absent from the A-Division in 2011, but played and won the 2012 B-Division. Returning to the top flight, they qualified for the National League for the first time in 2014. In addition to their two A-Division and one B-Division title, they have also represented Bhutan in the AFC President's Cup in 2010.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Drukpol FC</span> Bhutanese football club

    Drukpol Football Club, sometimes referred to as Druk Pol, was a football club from Thimphu, Bhutan. Until 1996, the team was called Royal Bhutan Police FC. Drukpol FC has won the A-Division championship a record eight times, more than any other team in Bhutan. The team's home ground was Changlimithang Stadium.

    Phuentsholing City Football Club is a professional football club from Phuentsholing, Bhutan, based at the PSA Phuentsholing Stadium. It finished fifth in the inaugural season of the Bhutan National League. The club has been sponsored by the Penden Group of Companies.

    Samtse Football Club is a professional football club from Samtse, Bhutan, based at the Samtse Dzongkhag Ground. They finished last in the inaugural season of Bhutan National League.

    Choden Football Club was a football club from Bhutan, based at Changlimithang, consisting of players from the U-19 Bhutan national team, who played in the Bhutan A-Division, then the top level of football in Bhutan, but since replaced by a full national league. They finished fifth in the 2011 season, the last season where the A-Division was the top flight. Although they were not formally relegated at the end of the 2011 season, they do not appear to have taken part either in the 2012 A-Division, nor consequently the 2012–13 Bhutan National League.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhutan Premier League</span> Mens professional football league in Bhutan

    The Bhutan Premier League, currently known as the Bank of Bhutan Premier League due to sponsorship reasons, is the men's highest division of professional football in Bhutan. It also provides Bhutan's entrant for continental competition, the AFC Challenge League.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">San Pedro Pirates FC</span> Belizean association football club

    San Pedro Pirates Football Club is a Belizean football team that competes in the Premier League of Belize (PLB). The team is based in San Pedro Town and plays home matches at Ambergris Stadium.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Namibia Premiership</span> Top Namibian football division

    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.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Swakopmund FC</span> Namibian football club

    Swakopmund FC is a Namibian football club based in Swakopmund which currently plays in the First Division, the second-tier competition in the country. The team plays its home matches at the SFC-Stadion.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">DTS Windhoek FC</span> Namibian football club

    DTS Windhoek FC is a Namibian football club based in Windhoek which currently plays in the First Division, the second-tier competition in the country.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Lesotho A–Division</span> Football league

    The Lesotho A–Division is the second-tier league of football in Lesotho. It operates under the auspices of the Lesotho Football Association.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Mazenod Swallows FC</span> Lesotho football club

    Mazenod Swallows FC is a Mosotho football club based in Mazenod that currently competes in the Lesotho Premier League. It is currently managed by former Lesotho international and Swallows player Teele Nts'onyana.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Okahandja United FC</span> Namibian football club

    Okahandja United FC is a Namibian association football club based in Okahandja. The club currently competes in the Namibia Premier Football League, the top level of football in Namibia.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Belmopan Bandits FSC</span> Belizean football club

    Belmopan Bandits FSC is a professional football club from Belmopan, Belize, currently competing in the Premier League of Belize. With nine championships, the club is the most successful in Belizean football since the creation of the Premier League of Belize in 2012.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuca Tops FC</span> Namibian football club

    Cuca Tops FC is a Namibian football club based in Rundu which currently plays in the Namibia Premiership.

    References

    1. 1 2 3 "Northern Stream First Division". Namibia Football Association (NFA). Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    2. 1 2 "Southern Stream First Division". Namibia Football Association (NFA). Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    3. 1 2 Hembapu, Otniel. "FNB could divert sponsorship to First Division…as NPL agreement lapses". Neweralive.com. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    4. ↑ Hembapu, Otniel. "First Division football returns". New Era Live. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    5. ↑ Kaurasia, Jesse Jackson (24 May 2021). "First Division Resurrected". Namibian Sun. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    6. ↑ Courtney, Barrie. "Namibia 2006/07". RSSSF . Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    7. ↑ Mücke, Mark. "Namibia 2007/08". RSSSF . Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    8. ↑ King, Ian; Mücke, Mark. "Namibia 2008/09". RSSSF . Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    9. ↑ King, Ian; Mücke, Mark. "Namibia 2009/10". RSSSF . Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    10. 1 2 King, Ian. "Namibia 2010/11". RSSSF . Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    11. ↑ "First Division Football Comes to an End". Namibia Economist. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
    12. ↑ Nikodemus, Sheefeni. "Chiefs, Magic Plot NPL Assault". The Namibian. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
    13. ↑ Schöggl, Hans; Stokkermans, Karel. "Namibia 2012/13". RSSSF . Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    14. ↑ King, Ian; Schoggl, Hans; Stokkermans, Karel. "Namibia 2013/14". RSSSF . Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    15. ↑ Schöggl, Hans; Stokkermans, Karel. "Namibia 2014/15". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
    16. ↑ Schöggl, Hans; Stokkermans, Karel. "Namibia 2015/16". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
    17. 1 2 "Young African Gains Promotion". The Namibian Sun. 26 April 2016. Archived from the original on 2023-05-14. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
    18. ↑ "All three 'Chiefs' relegated from NPL … promotions still undetermined". New Era. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
    19. ↑ Stokkermans, Karel. "Namibia 2016/17". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
    20. ↑ Schöggl, Hans; Stokkermans, Karel. "Namibia 2017/18". RSSSF . Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    21. ↑ Stokkermans, Karel. "Namibia 2018/19". RSSSF . Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    22. ↑ Schöggl, Hans. "Namibia 2019/20". RSSSF . Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    23. ↑ King, Ian; Schöggl, Hans. "Namibia 2021". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
    24. ↑ Schöggl, Hans. "Namibia 2022". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
    25. ↑ Stokkermans, Karel. "Namibia 2022/23". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
    26. ↑ Uulumbu, Castro. "Cuca Tops Secure Premier League Promotion After 22-year Absence". Namibian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.