Zebaldt Ngaruka 

Namibia’s well-travelled rugby player Handrè Bezuidenhout said rugby has been like the ‘main food’ in the family since he was born.

Bezuidenhout, who now plays for the University of Namibia (Unam) rugby team, shared with New Era Sport that he was influenced by his father Robert Bezuidenhout, who was a rugby player in Grootfontein.

“Seeing my dad playing rugby has triggered me to fall in love with the sport I dearly love. I enjoy, and admired rugby from a tender age,” he said.

Known as ‘Boom’, the player’s love for rugby makes him think that he was born with a rugby ball under his arm.

“I started playing rugby when I was five years old for the U/7 team at Wilhelm Nortier Primary School in Grootfontein. The 1999 World Cup cemented my passion for rugby,” he recalled.

The 30-year-old has played as centre for most of his career, but following his move to Unam, coach Rodger Thompson converted him to eighth man.

The number eight position in rugby interacts with the scrumhalf at the back of the scrum to control and provide a clean ball at the back.

It can also pick the ball from the back of the scrum, run with it, or pass it to the scrumhalf and be another jumper at the lineouts.

“This year was my first attempt at playing in the number eight position, and I am grateful for the guidance I received from my coaching staff to give my all to the brand-new position on the field,” he reckoned.

Bezuidenhout, who is enjoying the physicality and contact in his new position, told this publication that he started shining at the U/13 and U/18 Craven Week games in South Africa (SA).

“This is where my achievements started, and I am glad that it has opened many doors for me, allowing me to play outside the country,” he said.

Craven Week is for the Namibian side in the age grade category, which goes and plays in SA every year in an inter-provisional tournament against provinces.

In 2012, he played in the U/19 Africa Cup and won the tournament, which earned  Namibia an automatic qualification to the Junior Rugby World Cup held in Chile in 2013.

The utility player was part of the Junior Rugby World Cup U/20 competition held in Hong Kong, and the Namibia National Sevens Team that played in the Africa Cup hosted by Zimbabwe in 2014. 

Also, in 2016, Bezuidenhout featured for the Namibia Welwitschias in the Currie Cup team, and played for the National Sevens’ team that played the Africa Cup in Kenya.

“It was at this tournament that we qualified for the HSBC Sevens tournament held in Hong Kong in 2017. I was also signed by a Canadian team called Leprechaun Tigers Club on a one-year contract (2022-2023).”

 The player, who represented Namibia at all age groups, also spent part of 2023 in the Czech Republic, and played for a club called RC Dragons. 

“I had the opportunity to play for clubs overseas that include RC Dragons, Leprechaun Tigers in Canada, and the Durban Collegians in SA,” he said. 

Besides rugby, Bezuidenhout also played hockey, and was part of the Namibia national hockey team from 2006 to 2015.

Due to his passion for sport, the player plays cricket during the off-season.

“That means that I played hockey, rugby, football and cricket when I was younger. Unfortunately, with age comes choices, and I decided to focus on rugby, with cricket as a second choice in the off-season,” he stated.

Asked about his career highlight, the player said he remembered scoring two tries at the HSBC Hong Kong Sevens tournament.

“The cheers of the crowd getting behind the underdog was very special. It was indeed a wonderful experience,” he said.

Rugby, like most team sports, gives him a sense of purpose, and a place within the team that may be missing in the other part of his life.

“The sense of camaraderie with teammates can be an important part of helping individuals move towards a more positive frame of mind,” he said.

The player believes that with God’s blessings, everything is possible, and that has been attributed to having strength.

His club rugby career started at Wanderers, which is one of the top Namibian rugby clubs, including United, before moving to Unam late last year. 

Bezuidenhout was inspired by Andrew Joubert, who played for the Springboks, Free State and Natal.

“He was my role model when I was playing in the back-line. He was the Rolls Royce of rugby, and I loved how he could break through a line at a high sprint,” he said. 

Since now he is a part of the forward pack, SA’s Duane Vermeulen is his favourite player.

“He was a very physical player, who didn’t give up until he carried the ball over the advantage line,” he added.

Asked what he would be doing once retired from playing, Bezuidenhout said his ambition is to keep any aspect of rugby in his life, going forward. 

“I have dabbled in coaching before, and look forward to pursuing that side of rugby once I retire,” he said. 

In terms of rugby development in the country, he said rugby is well-taken care of at the school level and the potential is there.

“You can find passionate coaches trying to develop rugby players from an early age. I would like to see the establishment of a rugby academy that will develop young potential, and create a pathway for them to represent the country,” he suggested. 

Bezuidenhout is saddened to see many talented players leaving Namibia to pursue rugby careers elsewhere. 

The Unam player is already playing alongside his younger brother Duhan, who plays as a centre.

 “Our youngest brother Derrick-Nell Bezuidenhout will be joining us next year at Unam. He is currently playing for the Windhoek Technical High School (HTS) first team, meaning that we will be three Bezuidenhout brothers in one team,” he said.

He urged parents to support their children in sport, adding that parents play a very important role in any child’s physical and mental development. 

“I would never have been able to achieve what I have without the unwavering support from my parents,” appreciated the player who completed his secondary school at Windhoek Gymnasium. 

Bezuidenhout, who quit his job to play rugby overseas, is a qualified radio frequency technician and installer.

He is currently helping with coaching rugby in the afternoon, while in search of a permanent job.

-zngaruka@yahoo.com