If you think Saru has issues...
2005-09-29 10:28
It is always sad to see a great player leave the game. Often though, some of them leave at the wrong time and taint their legacy with one season too many.
Recent retirements will see Jason Robinson, Naka Drotske and Anton Leonard's careers coming to a halt in the next couple of months.
Just a couple of thousands of kilometres from here, more than 20 international players retired all at once.
Some of them with only five Test caps, some with more than 20.
Prime of their lives
But unlike the Leonards of this world who are already thirtysomething, these guys are in the prime of their lives and are playing the best rugby they can. But they are forced out of the game due to incompetent administrators.
I am talking about the core of Namibia's international rugby playing team.
At least 25 of them have played more than five times for their country, the majority made it to the World Cup in 2003 and won the African Cup in 2004.
All are still good enough to play for their country and there is no doubt in my mind that they can again qualify for the next World Cup in 2007.
All refuse to play for Namibia again until their requests for a thorough investigation into the affairs of the union are met.
They have a long list of grievances, some of their complaints are so horrific, they make the charges against Brian van Rooyen look like a Sunday school picnic.
These players are desperate. They have now written a letter to the IRB, asking for help. They have appealed to SA Rugby to help.
Somehow I don't think the latter will help much, they have too much problems to sort out themselves.
African Federation
Which leaves the IRB. They have already indicated that they are aware of the problems, but will ask the African Federation (CAR) to keep an eye on the situation.
That will not be good enough, I am afraid. Namibia was a great rugby team, once it was second best in Africa.
Even IRB president Syd Millar remembered the tough games he had as a British and Irish Lions tourist against the Biltongboere.
CAR will not do much. Their president is from North Africa and he is not going to care too much about a country that stands between him and a possible Cup victory.
Ireland and Wales lost tests in Namibia less than a decade ago. Today Namibia are playing the likes of Botswana and Madagascar.
And battle to beat them; as the likes of Kees Lensing, Heino Senekal, Schalk van der Merwe and Hugo Horn refuse to play for Namibia.
Other professionals in South Africa who can play for Namibia but refuse are the likes of Baksteen Nel, Ruan Vermeulen, Quintin van Tonder and Andre Hough.
They are joined by players from all races inside Namibia. All are turning their backs on the chance to play. Because they feel it is not worth it.
Here are some of the problems they have:
Some players have not been paid since playing in the World Cup, where incidentally, players had to find their own sponsors for shirts and casuals.
They even had to find a sponsor to supply them with rugby pants during the event. During all that time, the union's president and CEO were living in luxury in a nearby hotel.
The players were promised match fees, petrol allowances and medical assistance, all in black and white on paper.
They were promised that the infrastructure at the national stadium would be upgraded. They were promised that tackle bags would be repaired and new ones purchased.
R50 000 in cash disappeared
Nothing happened. Then almost R50 000 in cash disappeared from the NRU offices after the SA 'A' game against Namibia last year. No investigation followed.
The players were furious and quit en masse. They got a sponsor who was prepared to put up money for a financial audit.
The NRU refused to open their books. The Namibian Sports Commission investigated, but their findings remain a secret.
A spokesperson for the players, Corne Powell, told me they had enough.
"We are amateurs and pay our own way to train, to get to and from practices. We cover our own medical expenses and when we get injured playing for Namibia, are expected to pay for the medical costs ourselves.
We have asked the union to contribute towards our gym fees. Nothing," says Powell, a medical doctor.
Last year, in preparation for the African Cup final, players trained from 5:30 to 7:30, then rushed to work.
In the afternoons after work, they trained another two hours, leaving for their homes around 20:30. Only to be at training again 5:30 the next morning.
The players are still waiting
Some players had to drive for another two hours to get home. The NRU promised to assist, the players are still waiting.
The NRU did act by suspending United Rugby club from all competitions till 2007.
What is no coincidence is the fact that a once proud rugby nation is plunging down a ravine of bad administration and inept and corrupt officials.
And all who are aware of this and do nothing, are just as guilty as Thabo Mbeki is over Zimbabwe or Cosatu over Jacob Zuma.
I have asked the NRU president Dirk Conradie two weeks ago to reply to the allegations and other questions. I am still waiting for answers.
But I am lucky. Namibia's players have been waiting for two years. In that time, by the way, they have slipped from no 16 in the world to no 26.
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