A largely young and inexperienced squad of 35 players has been selected to represent the Welwitschias in this year’s Vodacom Cup competition which kicks off against the Golden Lions on Friday night.
The squad includes four players who represented Namibia U19 who won the U19 Africa Cup last year to qualify for this year’s Junior World Rugby Trophy in Portugal.
They are the Unam lock forwards Max Katjiteko and Veva Kaura who were still at Windhoek High School last year, the Unam centre Lesley Klim and flyhalf Henriques Olivier who last year starred for Windhoek Gymnasium when they won the Metropolitan Boards Trophy Super League title for the first time.
Other young players called up include eighthman Zanna Botes, who has returned from the Golden Lions U21 squad, and props Petrie Burger, who represented Namibia U20 at the Junior World Rugby Trophy in Hong Kong last year, and Andries Rossouw who represented the U21 Limpopo Blue Bulls last year.
Other uncapped players called up include wings Nandivatu Karuuombe and Phillip Nashikaku, centres Tuna Amutenya and Jacques Nel, scrumhalf Cameron Klaasen, locks Ulrich Engels and Stef Botha and flanker Morton van Kradenburg.
The only experienced players in the squad who have regularly represented Namibia are fullback Justin Nel, wing Johan Tromp, centre Darryl de la Harpe, scrumhalves Arthur Bouwer and Eniel Buitendag, hooker Rathony Becker, props Johnny Redelinghuys, Jaco Engels and Shaun du Preez and flanker Morne Blom.
The squad was trimmed down from an initial group of 55 players following a trial match over the weekend.
According to a press release issued by the Namibia Rugby Union, all the players underwent medical tests and three players, who have not recovered from injury, were not included in the group. They are the experienced lock Nico Esterhuyse and flanker Tinus du Plessis, who both play for Wanderers, and Western Suburbs loose forward Victor Rodrigues.
The NRU statement however emphasised that other players can still be called up to the group.
“This group is not a closed group for the Vodacom Cup period, and coaches can still select players who are impressing in the club league to form part of the group during the competition. Players playing for their clubs are therefor encouraged by the union officials and coaches to play every match at club level as if it is trials. Opportunities come quickly and those who are ready and take the opportunity, will be rewarded,” the statement read.
It said the Vodacom Cup would help develop local players and give them an opportunity to stake their claims to the national squad of coach Danie Vermeulen, which will play in the IRB Nations Cup in Romania in June, and against the Blue Bulls, Kenya and Zimbabwe in August, before the World Cup commences in September.
The Welwitschias’ Vodacom Cup squad is coached by Henry Kemp and Roger Thompson, who will be assisted by NRU technical advisors Phil Davies and Wayne Procter from Wales for the next month.
The Vodacom Cup kicks off for the FNB Welwitschias against the Golden Lions on Friday, 6 March at 19h00 at the Hage Geingob Stadium. Entrance for the main stand is N$60 per person, the open stand is N$30 per person, while scholars pay N$10. Children not yet in school can enter for free.
According to the NRU, there will be a safe area for children, hospitality areas, crowd activation and halftime activities to engage the crowd.
The Welwitschias group of 32 players is as follows:
Fullbacks: Justin Nel, Russel van Wyk
Wings: Johan Tromp, Nandivatu Karuuombe, Phillip Nashikuku.
Centres: Jacques Nel, Darryl de la Harpe, Lesley Klim, Tuna Amutenya.
Flyhalves: Shawn Kaizemi, Henrique Olivier.
Scrumhalves: Arthur Bouwer, Cameron Claasen, Eniell Buitendag.
Props: Johnny Redelinghuys, Quintin Esterhuizen, Shaun du Preez, Andries Rossouw, Jaco Engels, Petrie Burger.
Hookers: DG Wiese, Niel van Vuuren, Rathony Becker.
Locks: Max Katjiteko, Veva Kaura, Ulrich Engels, Stef Botha, Muniovita Kasiringua.
Flankers: Morton van Kradenburg, Morne Blom, Thomasau Forbes.
Eighthman: Zanna Botes.
