Clubs prepare to throw out Union

Namibian rugby has been thrown into turmoil months before the country makes her fourth consecutive appearance at the International Rugby Board (IRB) World Cup finals in New Zealand, later this year.

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Our sources have it on good authority that the clubs are fed up with the current Namibian Rugby Union (NRU) Executive and want to see a cleanout at Lichtenstein Strasse with immediate effect.

The 26 clubs affiliated to the NRU gathered in Windhoek a fortnight ago and resolved to table a motion of no-confidence in the current NRU Executive.

The troubled union finds itself entangled in a web of damaging accusations, ranging from lack of transparency and mismanagement to financial irregularities.

The cash-strapped union has been unable to service its creditors, leading to non-payment of salaries to its staff members, and water, electricity and communication cuts in recent months.

With debts piling up from awkward angles – the clubs moved swiftly and will table a vote of no-confidence in the current executive in what is interpreted as a desperate move to avert the union’s assets from being attached.

The financially troubled union is loaded with debts of close to five million dollars with Trustco ready to pounce on the union as the company seeks to recover monies loaned to the union of close to four million dollars.

An outstanding amount of N$880 000 is due to Safari Hotel for services rendered during the hosting of the NRU International Sevens Rugby Tournament.

Sources close the NRU also revealed that the IRB has taken heed of the problems within Namibian rugby and have subsequently suspended funding to the union with immediate effect.

A four-member IRB delegation led by Cliffie Booysen is expected in Windhoek. The irked rugby heavyweights will seek an audience with members of the line ministry and other relevant stakeholders to get to the root of the problem.

NRU has suspended its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sakkie Mouton with “full pay” in December last year after the motor-mouth rugby administrator spilled the beans over the shoddy dealings within the hierarchy of Namibian rugby.