NRU appoints new coaches

THE Namibia Rugby Union yesterday announced the appointment of Jakkals Pretorius and Christo Alexander as national team coaches.

The appointment followed last Friday’s resignation of Danie Vermeulen and his brother Gielie, who was assistant coach. Pretorius and Alexander will take charge of the national team.For the Namibia A side, Pretorius, will work with former Namibian winger Eden Meyer as his assistant.Initially, Johan Venter, was also chosen as one of the coaches, but he declined the offer.The other two coaches who were also approached by the NRU were former Namibian number eight strongman Sarel Losper and Johan Diergaardt.A statement from the NRU yesterday stated that Michael Tune will remain the team doctor, as he is still under contract, while discussions will be held with Henry Boshoff, who also resigned as a biokineticist.The Vermeulen brothers including John Archer, (team manager) and Ben Viljoen, who was also a team doctor, tendered their resignations which were officially accepted by the executive committee of the NRU.The Vermeulen brothers offered to withdraw their resignations only if they were given the right to appoint their own management team.Their request was shot down at an executive meeting held on Tuesday night, with the union leadership arguing that the NRU Executive had the sole mandate to appoint members of the management team.The resignation of the two coaches and some of the officials was prompted by among others, the non-payment of petrol monies of players, inadequate training facilities for the national team and lack of co-operation from the NRU Chief Executive Officer, Nickey Bekker.Another reason cited for the resignation of the Vermeulen brothers was that they did not see a need to national trials at short notice.The union also announced that national trials for the selection of a large group of players with the view of including some in the national team and the A side, will be held this weekend in Windhoek.Pretorius and Alexander will take charge of the national team.For the Namibia A side, Pretorius, will work with former Namibian winger Eden Meyer as his assistant.Initially, Johan Venter, was also chosen as one of the coaches, but he declined the offer.The other two coaches who were also approached by the NRU were former Namibian number eight strongman Sarel Losper and Johan Diergaardt.A statement from the NRU yesterday stated that Michael Tune will remain the team doctor, as he is still under contract, while discussions will be held with Henry Boshoff, who also resigned as a biokineticist.The Vermeulen brothers including John Archer, (team manager) and Ben Viljoen, who was also a team doctor, tendered their resignations which were officially accepted by the executive committee of the NRU.The Vermeulen brothers offered to withdraw their resignations only if they were given the right to appoint their own management team.Their request was shot down at an executive meeting held on Tuesday night, with the union leadership arguing that the NRU Executive had the sole mandate to appoint members of the management team.The resignation of the two coaches and some of the officials was prompted by among others, the non-payment of petrol monies of players, inadequate training facilities for the national team and lack of co-operation from the NRU Chief Executive Officer, Nickey Bekker.Another reason cited for the resignation of the Vermeulen brothers was that they did not see a need to national trials at short notice.The union also announced that national trials for the selection of a large group of players with the view of including some in the national team and the A side, will be held this weekend in Windhoek.