By Carlos Kambaekwa
WINDHOEK
There is an old adage that says, ” If you can’t stand the heat in the kitchen, get out of it” and Oshikandela Ramblers’ long serving coach Tollie van Wyk dully obliged.
The former Brave Warriors and Ramblers skillful defender has told his success hungry bosses at Tunchel Street where to get off.
Van Wyk and his deputy Dove Fransman, both former members of Ramblers title winning combination in 1992 steered the wealthy Pionierspark-based outfit to its first ever victory in the country’s most sought after silverware, the Tafel Lager NFA Cup in the 2004/2005 season and also tested success in the current season’s pipe opening tournament, the FNB Knock-Out Cup.
Despite having assembled the best possible squad in the league so far, Ramblers has been struggling to stamp its authority when it mattered the most, leading to them being associated with the near team tag.
After a brilliant start to the 2007/2008 season that saw the star-studded team sweeping their opponents aside at will in all competitions – the wheels of fortune finally came off as the team could only muster a paltry 2 points from a possible 12 in their last couple of league games – thus allowing their rivals to catch up.
The final straw on the camel’s back came a fortnight ago when Rammies was bundled out of the lucrative MTC NFA Cup by a nine man Civics – a result that infuriated the club’s Management so much that they hastily roped in the club’s development coach Eric Muinjo to keep an eye over proceeding at Tunchel Street.
Though the pair of van Wyk and Fransman was retained as assistant coaches, the warning signs were already flickering that their days at Tunchel Street were numbered since one can’t have two bulls in one kraal.
The no nonsense mentor tendered his resignation with immediate effect yesterday and though he spewed bile when contacted by New Era’s Sport to shed more light on his sudden departure – sources close to the club says the relationship between the outspoken van Wyk and some members of the Executive reached boiling because of preferential treatment accorded to a certain Senior player at the club.
The long-serving player, whose identity is known to New Era Sport, is reported to have been a disruptive influence amongst his colleagues and the Technical staff ostensibly shot themselves in the foot when they dare tried to ground the player who is believed to be the blue eyed boy of the club’s heavyweights.
Meanwhile, Fransman has also called it quits apparently on the basis of the afore- mentioned reasons. Approached for comment yesterday, the President of Ramblers Soccer Section Harald Hecht confirmed the duo’s resignation but declined to elaborate further on the issue.