THE Namibian School Rugby trials for the Craven Week in SA were held the weekend of April 23 to 25. I was fortunate to see the programme for said trials. Something that bothers me a bit is that after 20 years of Independence they still use the quota system for kids 16 and 18 years old.
Are there still people who consider these kids (born after Independence) advantaged or disadvantaged in a specific sport code? By the way, the quota is 13 disadvantaged and 9 advantaged players.I would like to ask the NRU to please define who is considered advantaged and who is disadvantaged in these age groups? Or are you busy discriminating based on skin colour? According to me all the children born after Namibia’s Independence have had the same schools, opportunities and advantages to participate in sport on equal basis. Even before Independence there were certain sport codes that were open to everybody, for instance athletics and hockey. Maybe they are trying to say advantaged schools vs disadvantaged schools. That would be more relevant. Which raises the question: was the Government not supposed to upgrade all the schools and their sport facilities?This quota system is also pushed through in senior rugby. That is obvious if you saw one of the Welwitschias’ rugby games in the just-concluded Vodacom Cup. You don’t have to have a good knowledge of Namibian rugby to know that the NRU president’s sons are playing, so is the son of the vice president and the son of the coach of the Namibian sevens team. Nepotism at work? Or is it quota system at work? One SA commentator observed during the game against the Pumas after his colleague informed him that the President of NRU is related to the flyhalf and wing, that this explained a lot!So how long will this discrimination continue? I have been living under the Swapo government longer than under the National Party government. When will this blatant discrimination stop? In my opinion it borders on racism. People with knowledge of the law can you not take these people to court on the grounds of discrimination? Or should I tell my children: ‘Sorry but even after 20 years of Independence you are still the wrong colour, even if you do your best’.Theuns Dreyer
