WINDHOEK – Mystery surrounds the reported injury of Welwitschias utility forward Munee Tjiueza, which grounded the giant loose forward from Namibia’s recent three-match tour of Europe.
Sources close to the player claim Tjiueza is indeed the victim of a skewed selection policy, tailor-made to advance the cause of certain individuals of average playing quality at the expense of athletes of colour ahead of Namibia’s much-anticipated participation in the coveted International Rugby Board (IRB) World Cup in England next year.
Retired Namibian rugby fifteen lock forward Wacca Kazombiaze, who represented Namibia at the last two IRB World Cups, has climbed bare-knuckled into rugby officials accusing them of blatant nepotism and preferential treatment of white athletes.
The outspoken giant lock forward minces no words and challenges both the national coach Danie Vermeulen and NRU CEO Sybrand de Beer to introduce changes without further delay.
“My personal observation is that there is this misplaced school of thought amongst those administering the game of rugby, viewing black athletes as mere recreational and social objects when it comes to national team selection,” quibbles Kazombiaze.
He further accuses rugby coaches of misinforming players of colour with regard to their career paths and ultimate economical competitiveness. “White players will always have the edge over their less privileged counterparts because of this misplaced belief they are utility players – thus giving them unfair advantage over talented players of colour.”
The agitated beanpole Wacca calls on the NRU hierarchy to introduce measures that will bring an end to white dominance in domestic rugby.
“I’m wondering how many people did notice the actual reason as to why we lost against Kenya in our opening IRB World Cup qualifier in Madagascar. It was simply through a technical error – the coach blundered by fielding Tinus du Plessis at lock ahead of Tjiueza. The latter is a specialist lock and brilliant ball carrier for that matter.”
A cagey NRU CEO Sybrand de Beer does not entirely agree with Wacca’s assessment.
“Obviously people are entitled to their own opinions but what I know for sure is that the coach looks at different scenarios such as the medical history and level of commitment.”
De Beer adds that some coaches will prefer certain players ahead of others because of their mental strength, whereas others will go for determination, work rate and commitment depending on the type of opposition.
“After all, these coaches are working towards one common goal and that’s to assemble a competitive team that will hoist the country’s flag.”
However, insiders with intimate knowledge of the rumblings in the gossip corridors of Lichtenstein Strasse revealed to New Era Sport that Wacca’s hard-hitting claims are wholly justified.
Approached for comment, local rugby guru Corrie Mensah declined to pronounce himself on the issue, saying he is currently in the process of compiling a post-mortem report from disgruntled players in the aftermath of Namibia’s unsuccessful European safari,
By Carlos Kambaekwa