Windhoek
Namibia’s internationally acclaimed rugby player and long serving skipper of the IRB World Cup-bound Welwitschias, Jacques Burger, is a man on a mission.
The hippy-look-alike flanker, who plies his trade with leading English club Saracens in one of the most competitive leagues in world rugby, could not heap enough praise on the Namibian Rugby Union’s (NRU) commendable vision ahead of the team’s preparation for this year’s appearance at the world cup finals in England next month.
Namibia will make its fifth consecutive assault on the international rugby showpiece and Burger is upbeat about the team’s strength and competitive edge. “In all honesty, unlike in the past, this is the best preparation we have ever enjoyed going into a tournament of such magnitude,” he said.
Addressing the media during a brief conference in Windhoek yesterday, a very relaxed Burger admitted that the players could not have asked for anything better and applauded the NRU for moving swiftly to ensure that players are well taken care of in terms of fitness levels, conditioning and all the nitty-gritty required for such an Herculean event. “I’m very happy with the way things have turned out, notably the inevitable erection of a Conditioning Centre right next to the training field. This is a plus for the squad members, because once everybody is fit and raring to go, unnecessary injuries are unlikely to occur.
Known in local rugby circles as Captain Fantastic, Burger expressed confidence that Namibia has a formidable team that can compete internationally and he strongly believes the days when the Namibians were regarded as the whipping boys of the global rugby fraternity are numbered.
Without an iota of doubt, Namibia has assembled a highly competitive bunch of players, complimented by having good structures in place.
“The technical staff is top notch and all the logistics seem to be going pretty well – hence we are taking our next two matches against Kenya and Zimbabwe very seriously, because these matches would serve as a yardstick going into the World Cup,” Burger said.