Fick hits out over World Cup claims

FORMER Namibian Rugby Union (NRU) financial director Pieter Fick yesterday denied that he ever benefited from Rugby World Cup ticket sales, as alleged by the union bosses.

Fick yesterday issued a statement saying that the impression created that he benefited from the sale of the RWC tickets, “is devoid of any truth”. “I distance myself from these allegations in the strongest possible terms,” he said in a sworn affidavit signed by Sarel Francois Maritz Legal Practitioners.The NRU has been accused of not following Rugby World Cup Limited’s procedures for selling World Cup tickets, while union leaders are also alleged to have inflated the prices to pocket the difference.As a result top NRU officials have been barred from attending the rugby world cup in France.The NRU has said that it asked Fick to resign in early May, claiming that he could not trusted with the finances of the union.NRU president Dirk Conradie late last week denied that any tickets were sold illegally, and insisted that ticket proceeds of about N$2,8 million was paid into the account of the International Rugby Board (IRB) as required.Fick reported to the RWCL that there had been irregularities regarding the sale of the tickets in Namibia.According to the NRU, Fick had asked M&L Promotions – an agent in South Africa responsible for selling over 1 000 tickets that the NRU had received from the RWCL – to pay him N$900 000 in cash by August 15.He said in yesterday’s affidavit that this created the impression that he personally benefited from the sale of World Cup tickets.Fick said he never received any financial compensation, nor did he have any other personal benefit from the ticket sales while he was a member of the NRU until his resignation on May 31.”I further deny categorically that I ever made any suggestions to M&L Promotions or anybody personally or to any other representative of any institution whatsoever whereby I would benefit personally financially or in other way,” he said.He added that if there was any benefit to be made from the sale of the tickets, “this would be to the benefit of the NRU as per instruction and consent of the executive committee of the NRU”.Fick earlier claimed that interest of about N$66 000 was earned on an amount of N$2,8 million from the ticket sales which was paid into the Conradie and Damaseb law firm’s trust account.But Conradie denied this.Conradie said the interest amounted to only N$2 224,11.Meanwhile, Conradie is set to attend a hearing in Paris tomorrow into the sale of the tickets allocated to Namibia.”I distance myself from these allegations in the strongest possible terms,” he said in a sworn affidavit signed by Sarel Francois Maritz Legal Practitioners.The NRU has been accused of not following Rugby World Cup Limited’s procedures for selling World Cup tickets, while union leaders are also alleged to have inflated the prices to pocket the difference.As a result top NRU officials have been barred from attending the rugby world cup in France.The NRU has said that it asked Fick to resign in early May, claiming that he could not trusted with the finances of the union.NRU president Dirk Conradie late last week denied that any tickets were sold illegally, and insisted that ticket proceeds of about N$2,8 million was paid into the account of the International Rugby Board (IRB) as required.Fick reported to the RWCL that there had been irregularities regarding the sale of the tickets in Namibia.According to the NRU, Fick had asked M&L Promotions – an agent in South Africa responsible for selling over 1 000 tickets that the NRU had received from the RWCL – to pay him N$900 000 in cash by August 15.He said in yesterday’s affidavit that this created the impression that he personally benefited from the sale of World Cup tickets.Fick said he never received any financial compensation, nor did he have any other personal benefit from the ticket sales while he was a member of the NRU until his resignation on May 31.”I further deny categorically that I ever made any suggestions to M&L Promotions or anybody personally or to any other representative of any institution whatsoever whereby I would benefit personally financially or in other way,” he said.He added that if there was any benefit to be made from the sale of the tickets, “this would be to the benefit of the NRU as per instruction and consent of the executive committee of the NRU”.Fick earlier claimed that interest of about N$66 000 was earned on an amount of N$2,8 million from the ticket sales which was paid into the Conradie and Damaseb law firm’s trust account.But Conradie denied this.Conradie said the interest amounted to only N$2 224,11.Meanwhile, Conradie is set to attend a hearing in Paris tomorrow into the sale of the tickets allocated to Namibia.