Ken Borland

Restoring Namibian rugby to its former health was the key project for union president Bradley Basson and chief executive Sybrand de Beer in 2014 and their success off the field was mirrored on the park by coach Danie Vermeulen steering the side to World Cup qualification.

On July 6 in the Africa Cup CAR Division 1 qualifier in Antananarivo, Namibia scored an emphatic 89-10 victory over Madagascar to sneak ahead of Zimbabwe and Kenya on points difference and into their fifth successive World Cup, where they will take on the mighty All Blacks as well as Argentina, Tonga and Georgia in Pool C.

Just eight days earlier, Namibia’s campaign looked set to end in tears of sadness as a shock 29-22 defeat at the hands of Kenya left their hopes of qualifying for the 2015 World Cup hanging by the slimmest of threads.

But by 5pm on July 6, the Namibian rugby team were crying tears of joy at the Mahamasina Stadium as their extraordinary victory over the hosts had booked their spot in England 2015.

Following that opening-day loss, just their second against the East Africans since 2006, results had fallen Namibia’s way to keep their hopes alive. The Welwitschias beat Zimbabwe 24-20 to stay in contention, while their fellow Southern Africans did them a favour by overcoming Kenya 28-10 on the final day.

Crucially, neither Zimbabwe nor Kenya managed to get a bonus point in that match, which left Namibia needing to beat Madagascar by 53 points to qualify for the finals of the global showpiece.

“We were down in the dumps up to the last day, but we just believed until the very end. We had the will to keep on fighting until our last breath, until all 15 of us had to be carried off the field if necessary,” flank Tinus du Plessis said after the triumph.

“We had a massive points difference to work on, so we just planned to take it 10 minutes at a time. It’s amazing to think that we’ll now be playing our first match against the All Blacks!” the London Wasps player said.

For Zimbabwe, who showed encouraging improvement through the year, there was a second chance in the form of the repechage, but they went down 15-23 to Russia in Krasnoyarsk.

Director of Rugby Liam Middleton left for Canada shortly thereafter and by mid-November there was yet to be a taker to replace him. But the Sables enjoyed something of a renaissance in 2014, boosted by the presence of former Natal Sharks and Lions SuperRugby flyhalf Guy Cronje.

Kenya will look back on their year with some frustration as they struggled with consistency. They managed to beat Namibia, but lost to Zimbabwe; they lost 14-21 to Uganda, only to beat the same team 34-0 the next weekend.

They will need to develop more consistency – which will come with playing more often – if they are to follow their Sevens team up the world rankings. Under the guidance of former Western Province loose forward Jerome Paarwater, they also competed in the Vodacom Cup, which was a valuable exercise for them.

They will also need to clear their team of doping allegations that were made by a Kenyan governmental task force.

While playing enough internationals is always a challenge for the African sides, Namibia have been able to fill their calendar ahead of the World Cup, playing Germany, Canada, the French Barbarians and Portugal after returning from their Madagascan triumph.

The last three games were on an invaluable year-end tour to Europe, giving the Welwitschia’s the chance to experience Northern Hemisphere conditions ahead of the World Cup and test their depth.

Namibia also hope to be invited to the IRB Nations Cup in Romania as African champions, which could result in another four matches, while home Tests against Zimbabwe and Kenya are also planned for 2015.

The Namibian Rugby Union are also in talks with SARU about their possible participation in the Vodacom Cup in the first half of 2015.

Germany were comfortably beaten, 58-20, in Windhoek, in a match that marked Free State Cheetahs hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld’s first game in Namibian colours.

Vermeulen was able to call on a dozen overseas-based players through the year, with Pumas flank Renaldo Bothma (recently signed by the Sharks) outstanding in the World Cup qualifier in Madagascar, while Jacques Burger, the stoical grafter of the Saracens loose trio, played for Namibia for the first time since September 2011 when he led the team against Canada at Colwyn Bay in northern Wales.

Fullback Chrysander Botha, who played SuperRugby for the Lions and was then signed by the Exeter Chiefs, was one of the stars of the backline before his year ended with a broken leg in the 13-17 loss to Canada.

The likes of flank Rohan Kitshoff and prop Jaco Engels, both stalwarts of the South African domestic scene, also added their experience and quality to the Welwitschias.

The dissent which plagued Namibian rugby around the time of the previous World Cup is now in the past.

“Rugby in Namibia was quite badly hit in 2011 when the exco resigned and technically we were insolvent. But the latest financial statements have been declared clean and passed without any qualifications and there is good governance and the basic foundation in place. We are now back to concentrating on rugby,” De Beer said.

An IRB report also praised Namibian rugby, saying: “Governance, administration and finances can be used as an example for many unions in the world “.

The IRB’s regional manager for Africa, Jean-Luc Barthes, said in his report that “I met responsible and very professional people who want to properly manage their activities and make rugby the number one sport in the country.“

The plaudits kept coming when they were named sports team of the year, Vermeulen won coach of the year and De Beer administrator of the year at the Namibian Sports Commission Annual Awards.

To add to the feel-good factor, the U19 team won the Confederation of African Rugby’s tournament hosted in Windhoek in September to qualify for the IRB Junior Trophy competition in Portugal in 2015.

Northerns Cricketer of the Year JP de Villiers

Pace bowler JP de Villiers will no doubt want to spend more time in the Titans team next summer and the 25-year-old reminded everyone of his talents when he won the Northerns Senior Provincial Player of the Year award at the union’s prizegiving over the weekend.

De Villiers played just two Sunfoil Series games for the Titans last season, but showed his all-round promise by averaging 29 with the bat and taking seven wickets at 27.28.

He was Northerns’ leading wicket-taker in the three-day competition, however, with 36 scalps at an average of 20.19 and he averaged 24.72 with the bat, including an unbeaten century.

De Villiers also helped himself to the best Senior Provincial Bowler award, while Shershan Naidoo and Heinrich Klaasen were his fellow winners, sharing the batting award.

Maggie Mpahlele was his mimic for the Northerns women’s side, winning the bowler and player of the year awards, while national captain Mignon du Preez took home the award for best batter.

Du Preez was honoured alongside Marcia Letsoalo, Sunė Luus and Andrie Steyn for making the national women’s team, while Northerns’ long-term future looks bright with

Driaan Bruwer, Aiden Markram, Corbyn Bosch, Luus and Steyn all acknowledged for making the SA U19 side.

Left-arm spinner Ryan Houbert has previously played for Northerns and he was named the Best Club Cricketer of the Year for his 53 wickets for CBC Old Boys.

A club-mate, Henk Coetzee, was the leading batsman with 880 runs, but CBC Old Boys could not prevent the top-class Tuks first XI from winning the Premier League.

A host of other awards were handed out as a memorable evening celebrated the achievements of cricketers from U9 to international level.

AWARD WINNERS – 2014

Primary Schools

U9 Large Schools League        –           Hennopspark

U9 Medium Schools League   –           Mayville

U10 Large Schools League      –           Hennopspark

U10 Medium Schools League –           Pretoria Oos

U11 Large Schools League      –           Midstream College

U11 Medium Schools League –           Tygerpoort

U11 Small Schools League      –           Die Poort

U12 Large Schools League      –           Lynnwood Laer

U12 Medium Schools League –           Elarduspark

U13 Large Schools League      –           Constantiapark

U13 Medium Schools League –           Tygerpoort

U13 Small Schools League      –           Lynnwood Ridge

U13 Girls League                    –           Boerefort

High Schools

A League                                –           Waterkloof 1

B League                                –           AHS 2

C League                                 –           AHS 3

D League                                 –           PBHS 2

E League                                 –           Menlopark 3

F League                                  –           Menlopark 4

G League                                 –           Wagpos

H League                                 –           Garsfontein 4

I League                                  –           AHS 4

J League                                  –           Erasmus

U15 A League                          –           Garsfontein

U15 B League                          –           Midstream College

U14 A League                          –           Menlopark

U14 B League                          –           Midstream College

U19 Girls League                    –           Zwartkops

Individual School Awards

Best Player of the year: U13 Standard Bank              –           Anslin Fortuin

Best Player of the year: U15 Week                            –           Shared : Dean Foxcroft

& Nkosinathi Msiza

Best Player of the year: U17 Week                            –           Jannaman Malan

Best Player of the year: U19 Coca Cola Khaya Majola –        Driaan Bruwer

Best Player of the year: U19 Girls Week                    –           Sunė Luus

KFC Mini Cricket

Recognition Award                 –           Ian Morton

Recognition Award                 –           Sagree Naicker

Recognition Award                 –           Nicolien van Deventer

Recognition Award                 –           Lana Hattingh

Recognition Award     –           Angie Makhafola

Recognition Award     –           Madelien Vivieres

Junior Clubs

U9 Platinum                –           Tshwane Metro A

U9 Gold                       –           Moot A

U9 Silver                      –           Tshwane Metro B

U11 Platinum              –           Assupol Tuks A

U11 Gold                     –           Tshwane Metro A

U11 Silver                    –           Assupol Tuks C

U13 Platinum              –           Centurion Kavaliers A

U13 Gold                     –           Irene Villagers B

U13 Silver                    –           Tuine C

U15 Platinum              –           Willowquins A

U15 Gold                     –           Defence B

Senior Clubs

Premier League                      –           Assupol Tuks 1

Promotion League                  –           Pretoria 1

Reserve League                      –           Shared : Assupol Tuks 3 & PHSOB 2

Presidents League                   –           Police 2

Second League                        –           CBCOB 3

Third League                           –           Assupol Tuks 7

Fourth League                         –           AC Old Boys 5

Fifth League                            –           Moot 3

Sixth League                            –           Shared : Pretoria 5 & AC Old Boys 7

Seventh League                       –           Pretoria 6

Women’s Premier                   –           Shared : Irene Villagers & Sinoville & Tuks

Women’s T20                          –           Assupol Tuks

Knock Out League                   –           Assupol Tuks 1

Club Twenty20 League           –           Shared : Assupol Tuks 1 & TUT 1

NCU Club of Excellence          –           Assupol Tuks

Individual Club Career Awards

53 Club Season Wickets                                  –           Ryan Houbert (CBCOB)

880 Club Season Runs                                     –           Henk Coetzee (CBCOB)

4393 Club Career Runs                                   –           Reinhardt Mostert (Villagers)

3441 Club Career Runs                                   –           Andre Malan (Villagers)

3253 Club Career Runs                                   –           Henk Coetzee (CBCOB)

304 Club Career Wickets                                –           Will Giessing (ACOB)

411 Club Career Wickets                                –           Piet Botha (ACOB)

166 Club Career Wickets                                –           Ricardo Moonsamy (Laudium)

Best Club Player of the Year                           –           Ryan Houbert

Differently Abled Awards

LSEN Player of the Year                                  –           Armand Coetzee

Intellectually Impaired Player of the Year     –           Kirby Legoabe

Deaf Player of the Year                                  –           Reinhardt Limbach

Blind Player of the Year                                  –           Marco van der Linde

Disabled Player of the Year                            –           Ruan van Aswegen

Scorer Awards

Titans Scorer of the Year                                –           Ashler Serwadi

Premier League Scorer of the Year                –           Kathy Kulper

Promotion League Scorer of the Year                        –           Armandt Oosthuizen

Best newcomer Scorer of the Year                –           Coert de Toit

Most dedicated Scorer of the Year                –           Eunice Mahlanyane

Umpire Awards

Best Junior Umpire in League                                    –           Katlego Molefsane

Most Promising Development Umpire           –           Lucky Motswege

Most Promising Senior Umpire                      –           Kevin Lawrence

NCUA’s Umpire of the Year                            –           Jurie Sadler

NCU’s Club Umpire of the Year                      –           Hassen Dawood

NCUA’s Club of the Year                                 –           Sinoville

NCUA’s Premier League Captain of the Year –          David Bunn

National Awards

SA Deaf                                   –           Gerard Kroese

SA Deaf                                   –           Reinhardt Limbach

SA Deaf                                   –           Prince Mashego

SA Deaf                                   –           Coenraad van den Berg

SA Deaf                                   –           Onalerona Seemise

SA Blind                                   –           Johan Schroeder

SA Blind                                   –           Vernon Barnard

SA Blind                                   –           Sedizani Netshikwele

SA Blind                                   –           Innocent Phiri

SA Blind                                   –           Marco van der Linde

SA Blind                                   –           Sean Schwan

SA Blind                                   –           Ephraim Mathapo

SA Intellectually Impaired      –           Kirby Legoabe

SA Intellectually Impaired      –           Karabo Matlakala

SA Intellectually Impaired      –           Brendan Engelbrecht

SA Intellectually Impaired      –           Sello Ndima

SA Intellectually Impaired      –           Puseletso Modimola

SA Intellectually Impaired      –           Mzwandile Mhlongo

SA Women                              –           Mignon du Preez

SA Women                              –           Marcia Letsoalo

SA Women                              –           Sunė Luus

SA Women                              –           Andrie Steyn

SA U17 Cubs Invitation            –           Jannaman Malan

SA U17 Cubs Invitation            –           Rivaldo Moonsamy

SA U17 Cubs Invitation            –           Stefan Klopper

SA Under 19 Girls                    –           Sunė Luus

SA Under 19 Girls                    –           Andrie Steyn

SA Under 19 Colts                   –           Dustin Melton

SA Under 19 Colts                   –           Rivaldo Moonsamy

SA Schools                               –           Driaan Bruwer

CSA Colts XI                             –           Tian Koekemoer

SA Under 19                            –           Driaan Bruwer

SA Under 19                            –           Aiden Markram

SA Under 19                            –           Corbyn Bosch

USSA Representation              –           Heinrich Klaasen

USSA Representation              –           Sean Nowak

USSA Representation              –           Douglas Hewitt

Women’s Cricket Awards

Best Bowler of the Year                                  –           Maggie Mphahlele

Best Batsman of the Year                               –           Mignon du Preez

Most Promising Player of the Year                –           Andrie Steyn

Best Senior Women’s Player of the Year       –           Maggie Mphahlele

Senior Provincial Awards

Best Senior Provincial Bowler of the Year     –           JP de Villiers

Best Senior Provincial Batsman of the Year   –           Shared :

Shershan Naidoo &

Heinrich Klaasen

Senior Provincial Player of the Year               –           JP de Villiers