Debmarine boost for Stars

WINDHOEK, 04 DEC  – African Stars received a timely boost on Tuesday when Debmarine Namibia availed N.dollars 100 000 to the club in their quest to qualify for the 2018/19 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions’ League group stages.
The sponsorship was announced in Windhoek one day before Stars face Volcan Club de Moroni from Comoros at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Wednesday in the second leg of the tournament’s first round.
Debmarine Namibia’s Chief Financial Officer Willy Martens said despite the financial crunch the Namibian economy finds itself in, they decided to answer the team’s call.
“We are already in football through the Debmarine Cup and Stars are the current champions of that competition. Stars are representing Namibia so we are assisting them. It is a pleasure for us to be involved in football. Not for the administrators, but for the players, as we want Namibia to be represented in continental football,” Martens said.
He added that if Stars qualify for the group stages of the tournament, they will come on board as jersey sponsors for the team, adding that they will consider helping other teams next time a team represents Namibia on the continent.
The football club’s executive director, Salomo Hei said they are grateful to Debmarine Namibia as the sponsorship will help Stars cover the ever-growing expenses of playing in a tournament of such magnitude.
“They responded to our cry at short notice and for that we cannot thank them enough. We are looking forward to a potential date with one of the most supported clubs on the African continent, and the potential mileage our sponsors will get from this African safari,” he said.
Previously, Hei had said in their first match for the 2018/19 CAF Champions League, they spent close to N.dollars 700 000 and costs are still rising as they prepare for the second leg.
Metropolitan and Nashua are the other two companies that have heeded Stars’ call for sponsorship even though the value of that support is not yet known.
African Stars played to a 0-0 draw with Volcan Club de Moroni in the first leg of the 2018/19 Champions League.