Khomas Nampol will have to wait until October next year to welcome back several of their newly signed players and head coach Jeremy Zimmer, who joined the latest Namibian Police Force recruitment intake, with basic training officially commencing on Monday this week.

The Windhoek-based club suffered a disappointing start to the 2026/2027 NamPort Namibia Premier Football League season, going down 6-1 against Bucks Buccaneers FC in their opening fixture last Saturday.

The situation presents an early challenge for the club, as several players recruited during the first transfer window departed for police training before the start of the new campaign, having only featured during pre-season preparations.

Among the notable arrivals were Simon Elago from FC Ongos, Deacon Kakuejne from Young African, Michael ‘Bwebwe’ Jonas from Eeshoke Chula Chula and Given Mutuezu from Mighty Gunners. Elago enjoyed an impressive previous campaign, finishing just one goal short of Golden Boot winner Mbakondja Tjahikika of African Stars, while Jonas finished as Chula Chula’s top scorer last season.

Speaking after the 6-1 defeat, newly appointed interim coach Woody Jacobs confirmed that he had only recently joined the club and was aware of the situation surrounding the absent players.

“When I arrived, I also just heard that they had signed up with the team, but right now, Deacon, Elago, Bwebwe and Given are all at police training. I actually just signed the contract the day before the match,” Jacobs revealed.

Asked about the impact of losing several new signings before the season started, Jacobs acknowledged that he would have loved to work with the players but maintained that the club must move forward with the available squad.

“There is not really much to say. That is why they opted to come to Nampol, to become police officers. It would have been nice to have them, but we must work with what we have and take it from there. I would really have loved to have them,” he said.

Jacobs also faced the challenge of taking charge without conducting a pre-season with the team. Despite conceding six goals in his first competitive assignment, he felt the scoreline did not accurately reflect the performance.

“Yes, you saw it, we were hit with six goals, but it is not really a true reflection of how the game went. I just feel like Bucks Buccaneers wanted it more. They were clinical and took the chances we presented to them.

“We conceded two penalties, so in all honesty, we were just bad in our decision-making, but I don’t think we were outplayed,” he explained.

The interim coach has already shifted his attention to the upcoming fixtures against Mighty Gunners and Eeshoke Chula Chula.

“It is one game, it is done. We are disappointed, but we must now focus on our next games against Mighty Gunners and Chula,” he added.

Jacobs’ appointment followed the suspension of former head coach Fortune Eichab in March 2026, after Khomas Nampol suffered a 1-0 defeat against Tigers FC. Former Civics coach Jeremy Zimmer subsequently took over with six league matches remaining in the 2025/2026 campaign.

Zimmer continued with the team during pre-season before also joining the NamPol recruitment and basic training programme, leaving Jacobs to take charge ahead of the new season.

However, Jacobs clarified that his appointment is only temporary, with Zimmer still regarded as the club’s head coach.

“He is the head coach of the team. I am just here on an interim basis until he finishes his training. When he returns, he will continue,” Jacobs confirmed.

Khomas Nampol FC, founded in 2014, earned promotion to the top flight in 2023 after winning the Southern Stream First Division. The club made an immediate impression in its debut 2023/2024 premier league campaign, finishing third and repeating the achievement in 2024/2025. However, they finished 13th in the 2025/2026 season.

With several new signings and their head coach expected to complete police training in October 2027, Khomas Nampol face a difficult campaign. Jacobs must now make the most of the available players as the club looks to recover from its disappointing opening-day defeat.