Windhoek City rebrands to clear municipal confusion

Windhoek City Sporting Club has officially rebranded as Pamwe Sporting Club to address confusion over its perceived affiliation with the City of Windhoek municipality, which the club says has affected its ability to attract private sponsorship.

The new identity was recently unveiled at the Pionier Boys School Sports Ground in Windhoek, as the club looks to strengthen its senior women’s football team, youth academy and development structures.

In a statement, the club explained that the similarity between its former name and that of the municipality had led some potential sponsors and investors to assume it was affiliated with or financially backed by the local authority.

Management said the misconception had limited its commercial opportunities, prompting the decision to establish a distinct identity that could attract independent corporate backing.

The name Pamwe, meaning “together” or “united”, was chosen to reflect the club’s emphasis on teamwork and unity as it enters a new chapter.

Building on progress

Club president and co-owner Ndafelenga Nelly Ndafyaalako said the transition follows a season in which the senior women’s team reached the semi-finals of the 2026 NFA Cup.

According to Ndafyaalako, five senior players also received national team call-ups, while two secured tertiary education scholarships and one won a gold medal at a Cosafa tournament.

Senior women’s captain Wanda Monalisa Garoes traced the club’s roots back to Ramblers before it transitioned to Windhoek City Sporting Club for the 2024-25 Women’s Super League season.

She said the club’s achievements were made possible by the collective efforts of its players, technical team and management.

“Toward the end of last season, when the matches were tough and the pressure was high, we didn’t break. Our senior players, our young academy kids, our technical team, and our management stood shoulder-to-shoulder,” said Garoes.

“It was that exact solidarity that carried us to the semi-finals of [this year’s] NFA Cup.”

The club has also recorded success at youth level, with its Under-8 and Under-10 teams winning their respective categories at the Julinho Athletic FA Tournament.

The academy has further recorded notable finishes at tournaments organised by DTS, the Development Schools Football Association (DSFA), Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW) and Swakopmund Football Club (SFC).

The senior women’s head coach, who also serves as the academy’s technical director, said the rebrand would build on the club’s existing football structures.

“For me, this is not simply about changing the name of a club. It is about building on what we have already established, improving our standards and creating a stronger football environment for everyone involved.”

Development plans

Ndafyaalako further confirmed that the club has secured a long-term lease to manage the Pionier Boys School Sports Ground, which will serve as a training and competition base for its teams while continuing to accommodate the school’s athletes.

The club is also seeking partnerships to improve its sporting facilities, including the development of a second football field, upgrades to the changing rooms and the conversion of old tennis courts into a futsal court.

Beyond infrastructure, Garoes called for greater corporate support towards player welfare, including transport, injury rehabilitation and educational opportunities for young footballers.

“When a corporate sponsor steps up to support player welfare, it means a player doesn’t have to miss training because she lacks transport. It means an injured player gets the right physiotherapy to recover,” she said.

“It means our academy players get nutritional support and educational scholarships to balance school and sport.”

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