Namibia determined to win Junior World Rugby Trophy

Namibia’s Under 19 rugby team leaves for Chile today, determined to win the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy which starts on April 15.

Namibia will play in Pool A of the competition and will meet Romania, Chile and the Cook Islands in their pool matches. Their final match will be a positional playoff match against an opponent from Pool B, which consists of Georgia, Uruguay, Korea and Jamaica.The Namibian team completed its preparations in Windhoek on Tuesday evening with a friendly match against an Under 23 Invitational team, which the Under 20s won comfortably 39-22.The country that wins the competition will be promoted to the 2009 Junior Rugby World Championship, which is contested by the world’s top rugby nations.Namibia qualified for the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy when they won the African qualifying tournament in Uganda last year.In the final they staged a great comeback to beat Zimbabwe 23-20, after trailing 20-8 at halftime.Most of those players are still in the squad, while four players are veterans from the 2007 Junior World Cup which took place in Dubai in April last year.They are wing Chrysander Botha, centre Robbie Bergh, prop Kerneels Myburgh and eighthman Milando Titus.Namibia’s captain from last year Frederik Botha however could not accompany the team due to study commitments, along with fellow lock Alwyn Stroh.Flanker Thomasau Forbes has taken over the captaincy.Namibia’s manager, Gabriel Tjombe said the team was ready to compete and determined to win the title.”The players can’t wait to go.They are eager and determined to win the competition.This is one of the best prepared teams to leave Namibia,” he said.The team paid a courtesy call on Deputy Minister of Sport Pohamba Shifeta yesterday, where the CEO of the Namibia Rugby Union, Keith Allies said that the team was ready for the competition.”This team already started its preparations with a training camp on November 13 last year so I can say that the team is well prepared,” he said.The president of the Namibia Rugby Union Dirk Conradie said that, except for support from their main sponsor MTC and from Novel Ford, the team had received no other financial support.”It is regrettable to say that this team is leaving with no support from Namibia’s corporate world.But I hope they will win the competition and bring the trophy back, despite the lack of support.I certainly believe they can do it,” he said.Shifeta said the government would look at the issue of financial support for sport teams that represent Namibia abroad.”Namibians don’t value what our sport codes are doing for the country abroad.We must see how we can change the Sport Act to assist them.I believe it is long overdue,” he said.Shifeta called on the players to represent their country with pride.”The moment you leave our borders, you will be seen as Namibians.You will carry our flag abroad and whatever you do will reflect on Namibia.You need to be aware that our country’s name is at stake,” he said.Namibia SportTheir final match will be a positional playoff match against an opponent from Pool B, which consists of Georgia, Uruguay, Korea and Jamaica.The Namibian team completed its preparations in Windhoek on Tuesday evening with a friendly match against an Under 23 Invitational team, which the Under 20s won comfortably 39-22.The country that wins the competition will be promoted to the 2009 Junior Rugby World Championship, which is contested by the world’s top rugby nations.Namibia qualified for the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy when they won the African qualifying tournament in Uganda last year.In the final they staged a great comeback to beat Zimbabwe 23-20, after trailing 20-8 at halftime.Most of those players are still in the squad, while four players are veterans from the 2007 Junior World Cup which took place in Dubai in April last year.They are wing Chrysander Botha, centre Robbie Bergh, prop Kerneels Myburgh and eighthman Milando Titus.Namibia’s captain from last year Frederik Botha however could not accompany the team due to study commitments, along with fellow lock Alwyn Stroh.Flanker Thomasau Forbes has taken over the captaincy.Namibia’s manager, Gabriel Tjombe said the team was ready to compete and determined to win the title.”The players can’t wait to go.They are eager and determined to win the competition.This is one of the best prepared teams to leave Namibia,” he said.The team paid a courtesy call on Deputy Minister of Sport Pohamba Shifeta yesterday, where the CEO of the Namibia Rugby Union, Keith Allies said that the team was ready for the competition.”This team already started its preparations with a training camp on November 13 last year so I can say that the team is well prepared,” he said.The president of the Namibia Rugby Union Dirk Conradie said that, except for support from their main sponsor MTC and from Novel Ford, the team had received no other financial support.”It is regrettable to say that this team is leaving with no support from Namibia’s corporate world.But I hope they will win the competition and bring the trophy back, despite the lack of support.I certainly believe they can do it,” he said.Shifeta said the government would look at the issue of financial support for sport teams that represent Namibia abroad.”Namibians don’t value what our sport codes are doing for the country abroad.We must see how we can change the Sport Act to assist them.I believe it is long overdue,” he said.Shifeta called on the players to represent their country with pride.”The moment you leave our borders, you will be seen as Namibians.You will carry our flag abroad and whatever you do will reflect on Namibia.You need to be aware that our country’s name is at stake,” he said.Namibia Sport

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