FNB Unam’s chances of reaching the semifinals of the Rugby Premier League suffered a big blow when they lost 48-24 to FNB Wanderers on Saturday in a match that was soured by a racial incident.
A spectator was asked to leave Wanderers’ premises after racially abusing a linesman Dan Sule, who later condemned the incident on his Facebook page, under the headline: “Racism has no place in our Namibian rugby leagues!”
“Today I had the unfortunate situation of being a victim of racial abuse by an old man who ought to respect his age and the people he was around.
To be openly racially abusing a black senior referee in public and tainting an otherwise brilliant game of rugby between Wanderers and Unam rugby clubs is very sad.
“There are things I can take but not that type of discrimination. And for many fans, players and coaches who know me; they know I am one of the most level-headed people you can meet around.
“To that old despicable man who was ejected from the game; I implore you to stay away from the rugby stands and find a racist kingdom to tuck your racist head in because we will not tolerate you around our rugby stands nor allow you to intimidate referees.
“Rugby is for us all be it white, black, brown, young or old and there is no game without the referee! Thank you for all the support shown towards me during and after the incident,” he said.
Sule’s post received a lot of likes, comments and support, while Wanderers’ team manager Willem van Zyl also expressed his support and disgust.
“We asked the spectator to leave our premises. We do not condone racism of any kind – there is no place for that in our country or in our beloved sport,” he said.
On the field of play, meanwhile, both teams gave it their all in an intense physical battle with Wanderers eventually repelling Unam’s onslaught to ease to victory.
Unam opened the scoring when flyhallf Keanan Diergaardt cut through the backline to score, but Wanderers soon drew level when lock Kistings Minyoi crashed over from a forward maul.
Wanderers’ pack started to gain the upper hand in the forward exchanges and more tries came their way as Adriaan Booysen went over for two and Edward Drotsky for one to put them 22-7 ahead at the halftime break.
Unam centre Willon du Plessis and Wanderers fullback Jaylon Carew traded tries early in the second half and when Unam wing Lazarus Joseph finally went over after constant pressure, they had reduced the deficit to 29-19.
Wanderers’ forward dominance, however, started to tell as Drotsky added two more tries and Nandivatu Karuuombe one, while Unam replied with a late consolation try by Feddy Mazila.
The result saw Wanderers stretching their lead at the top of the log to 57 points to move six points ahead of FNB Grootfontein who lost 48-31 to FNB Kudus at Walvis Bay.
Kudus scored eight tries through Ray-Shawn Shoombe (two), Lloyd Jacobs, Tonderai Ndudzo, Roberto Lensley, Roche Janse van Vuuren and AJ Kearns, while Aurelio Plato added four conversions.
For Grootfontein, Arno du Plessis scored three tries and Alfred Vercuil and Wicus Jacobs one each, while Franklin Busch added three conversions.
The result leaves Kudus on 44 points in fourth place while Unam are now 12 points behind in fifth.
Montego United collected maximum bonus points after beating FNB Dolphins 45-30 at home to move up to 48 points in third place.
They scored seven tries through Thehard Lintvelt (two), Jandre Esterhuyzen, Jurgen Meyer, Keanan Januarie, Ben Burger and Johan Brockman, while Enrique Husselmann added five conversions.
Dolphins scored five tries through Zaino van Wyk, Jerome Immanuel, Antonio Titus, Conwill Draghoender and Jerome Schumann while Maughan Jarman added one conversion and one penalty.
FNB Rehoboth, meanwhile, won the Rehoboth derby after beating FNB Reho Falcon 47-40.
Delano van Wyk scored two tries for Rehoboth, and Keathan Freygang, Jason Farmer and Deevan Mathys one each, while Farmer and Miquel Busch added two conversions each and Kevin Cloete one.
Falcons scored four tries through Keynen Basson (two), JP van Wyk, and a penalty try, while Henrique Oliver added 18 points with the boot.
