Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) has reaffirmed its commitment to the growth of netball in Namibia by announcing a substantial increase in sponsorship for Netball Namibia (NN). The company’s chief human and corporate affairs officer, Tim Ekandjo, declared on Thursday a sponsorship surge to N$2.5 million for the upcoming 2024 MTC Namibia Netball Premier League (NNPL) season, along with a promising six-year partnership.
This announcement follows a 36% increase from the previous year’s sponsorship, which stood at N$1.9 million. Tim Ekandjo emphasized the company’s dedication to supporting the sport, stating that this boost aims to elevate the standards of the league and address specific budgetary needs.NN President Rebbecca Goagoses explained that the augmented sponsorship budget was prompted by requests from NN members. Proposals submitted to the NN Executive outlined the necessity of covering certain budgetary items that were not accounted for in the previous financial plan.
In addition to the increased sponsorship, Tim Ekandjo outlined plans to raise the stakes for league winnings, intending to match or surpass those in football. In the previous season, the league champions received N$120,000, with the runners-up securing N$80,000 and N$60,000, respectively. NN President Rebekka Goagoses welcomed the generous sponsorship, acknowledging the positive impact it will have on the league. She highlighted another significant development, stating that regional grants would see a boost from the monthly N$10,000 to N$15,000. This increase aims to support grassroots netball initiatives and contribute to the overall growth of the sport at the community level.
