Mutorwa calls for calm in rugby

SPORT Minister John Mutorwa yesterday pleaded with rugby bosses not to quarrel and insult each other in the media, after accusations of racism, financial irregularities and apparent disregard of rules came to the fore once again.

Mutorwa said it does no good, nor does it enhance the performance of the players. Mutorwa reacted to media reports on the growing pressure to oust Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) president Dirk Conradie.Conradie and his executive committee are being accused of financial mismanagement and flouting rules of the United Rugby Club.The NRU needs at least N$2 million to cover its current debt.United, which has predominantly white players, was expelled from NRU activities after it refused to release its players for national trials.United have since appealed to the Namibia Sport Commission (NSC) and will meet that body on November 21 to hear their fate.Mutorwa said verbal attacks between rugby officials in the media, also affects the performance of the players on the field.”The broader membership and supporters of rugby in Namibia are urged to make use of the Annual General Meeting to democratically and constitutionally elect competent leaders of their choice,” he said.He added that those who boycott meetings must not cry foul later.”When the majority elect such leaders, who could be perceived by some as incompetent, that is what democracy teaches us,” he said.An AGM to elect a vice president and three executive members is scheduled for this weekend in the capital, but Conradie is not affected as his term runs out in 2008.Mutorwa earlier this year asked the NSC to critically look into the issues that “appear to negatively affect the smooth running of rugby administration, especially at the national team level.”He issued a statement on September 7 in which he pointed out that the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture was encouraged by the good spirit in which most issues affecting rugby were discussed by the various stakeholders after he requested reports.At the time, he sought a report on the state of the game from Conradie, his executive committee and the club chairpersons.The various rugby officials at an AGM held on September 10, seemed to have reached a consensus on various issues, but this started falling apart after some of the decisions taken at the meeting were not implemented.United executive member and legal representative, Chris Roets, this week said Conradie was not the right man for the game as he does not carry the interests of the game at heart.Conradie at the same time challenged anyone who wants him out to face him and tell him that, arguing that he was elected into that position by a unanimous vote.Roets also accused the NRU for unconstitutionally expelling his club from the leagues as the decision was not endorsed by the members at the AGM.At this stage, Namibia is faced with major problems on the field as most of the players on the senior level have less than five caps for the team.The Namibians were blasted 49-0 by Morocco during the Confederation of Africa Cup (CAR) at the weekend.They were defending champions.Namibia played in the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia and built many friends despite the furore ahead and after their campaign to the ultimate showpiece.Senior players pulled out of the national side after the competition due to unpaid match fees and allowances, only leaving a skeleton group of players to carry the flag for Namibia.About 25 top Namibian players (some in the country and some abroad) are refusing to be associated with the NRU because of the ongoing problems, especially those off the field.The biggest problems they cite are the non-payment of their outstanding monies and the disappearance of money from the coffers of the union, while basics such as training facilities (tackling bags) are not catered for by the current administration.Mutorwa reacted to media reports on the growing pressure to oust Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) president Dirk Conradie.Conradie and his executive committee are being accused of financial mismanagement and flouting rules of the United Rugby Club.The NRU needs at least N$2 million to cover its current debt.United, which has predominantly white players, was expelled from NRU activities after it refused to release its players for national trials.United have since appealed to the Namibia Sport Commission (NSC) and will meet that body on November 21 to hear their fate.Mutorwa said verbal attacks between rugby officials in the media, also affects the performance of the players on the field.”The broader membership and supporters of rugby in Namibia are urged to make use of the Annual General Meeting to democratically and constitutionally elect competent leaders of their choice,” he said.He added that those who boycott meetings must not cry foul later.”When the majority elect such leaders, who could be perceived by some as incompetent, that is what democracy teaches us,” he said.An AGM to elect a vice president and three executive members is scheduled for this weekend in the capital, but Conradie is not affected as his term runs out in 2008.Mutorwa earlier this year asked the NSC to critically look into the issues that “appear to negatively affect the smooth running of rugby administration, especially at the national team level.”He issued a statement on September 7 in which he pointed out that the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture was encouraged by the good spirit in which most issues affecting rugby were discussed by the various stakeholders after he requested reports.At the time, he sought a report on the state of the game from Conradie, his executive committee and the club chairpersons.The various rugby officials at an AGM held on September 10, seemed to have reached a consensus on various issues, but this started falling apart after some of the decisions taken at the meeting were not implemented.United executive member and legal representative, Chris Roets, this week said Conradie was not the right man for the game as he does not carry the interests of the game at heart.Conradie at the same time challenged anyone who wants him out to face him and tell him that, arguing that he was elected into that position by a unanimous vote.Roets also accused the NRU for unconstitutionally expelling his club from the leagues as the decision was not endorsed by the members at the AGM.At this stage, Namibia is faced with major problems on the field as most of the players on the senior level have less than five caps for the team.The Namibians were blasted 49-0 by Morocco during the Confederation of Africa Cup (CAR) at the weekend.They were defending champions.Namibia played in the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia and built many friends despite the furore ahead and after their campaign to the ultimate showpiece.Senior players pulled out of the national side after the competition due to unpaid match fees and allowances, only leaving a skeleton group of players to carry the flag for Namibia.About 25 top Namibian players (some in the country and some abroad) are refusing to be associated with the NRU because of the ongoing problems, especially those off the field.The biggest problems they cite are the non-payment of their outstanding monies and the disappearance of money from the coffers of the union, while basics such as training facilities (tackling bags) are not catered for by the current administration.