By Otniel Hembapu
WINHDOEK – Now is the right time for the corporate world and other potential investors to come on board and financially assist the Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) take local rugby to greater heights, especially in light of the Welwitschias qualification to next year’s rugby world cup in England.
NRU Chief Executive Officer, Sybrand de Beer made this call in an interview with New Era Sports yesterday, saying the union has big strategic plans, aimed at adequately preparing the Welwitschias ahead of their participation in next year’s rugby showpiece.
Speaking from South Africa where is he busy negotiating with various clubs for preparatory matches for Welwitschias, De Beer went to great lengths to stress the importance of helping to realise the ambition of the inspired Welwitschias to make an impression in England come next year.
De Beer further added that if his visit to South Africa happens to yield the desired results, local rugby supporters could anytime soon witness the Welwitschias rub shoulders with various South African outfits such as the Cheetahs, Stormers, Sharks, Lions and the Blue Bulls to mention but a few.
“The NRU has improved immensely, not just on the field of play but also administratively and I think we have really done enough in a short space of time to prove to all potential sponsors that the union is indeed a partner worth joining forces with,” urged De Beer.
“Now that Namibia has qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England, I say it’s time the corporate world joins hands with the NRU and make sure we prepare the team adequately and offer them enough competitive games ahead of next year’s competition. The players have proved their quality to all Namibians with the recent achievements and we at management level have already proved ourselves administratively, so what should we still prove to regain the trust of sponsors?”