Welwitschias’ coach Chrysander Botha has praised his charges for putting up a strong fight against a formidable Boland Cavaliers, despite their 54-24 loss in a friendly match. The match, held at Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek, was played behind closed doors due to government regulations prohibiting spectators at sporting events during the national mourning period for late Founding President Sam Nujoma.

Saturday’s match was part of preparations for the Welwitschias’ upcoming Rugby World Cup qualifiers later this year and as a warm-up for players to compete in the domestic league next month. Reacting to the match, Botha expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance against an experienced Cavaliers’ side. He also commended the young players who made their full senior debuts.

“I think we had a bit of a slow start after conceding the first seven points, but the guys turned it around. We were in the fight throughout the first half, and we had a couple of outstanding performances,” he said.

“It was an awesome first half, and I think the guys are very proud of their performance. That’s what Namibians are known for, we fight with pride. Judging from our performance, with more game time, we should be heading in the right direction,” he added.

Meanwhile, Cavaliers’ hooker Sidney Tobias acknowledged the tough challenge posed by the Welwitschias, attributing his team’s victory to their longer preparation time. “It was very tough playing against the Welwitschias at home; they gave us a real challenge. The altitude also played a role, making it a tough test for us. But we pushed through and played with pride. 

The biggest difference was that we’ve had more training time, which gave us an advantage,” Tobias said. Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) chairman Jurge Burger emphasised that the match was crucial in assessing the team’s fitness and readiness for the qualifiers.

“It’s great to see where we stand at the moment. Playing these matches allows us to evaluate our progress, and identify areas for improvement. 

We gave many players the opportunity to play in a competitive match, and from here, I’m sure we’ll keep improving as we prepare for the qualifiers,” he stated. 

-mkambukwe@nepc.com.na