A concerning lack of accountability

ANONYMOUS WRITES:

The recent decision by FNB Kudus Rugby Club to back out of a scheduled match against Rehoboth reveals a concerning lack of accountability.

Let’s look deep into this situation with the honesty it deserves. The freedom granted by our ‘constitution’ to pick and choose fixtures that a team will or won’t honour is not a display of professionalism; it’s a disregard for the principles that define the essence of competitive sports.

Now, I do know that Namibian rugby is nowhere near professionalism, but if our administrators dare us to dream through what they say, then I will scrutinize every amateur-like decision they take. In a professional context, decisions are driven by careful planning, accountability, and respect for the competition. The decision to opt out of a match and then proceed to plan to participate in another reflects not professionalism, but a convenient manipulation of the system for personal gain. It’s laughable how this was not obvious.

NRU president, Mr. Petrie Theron’s claim of “thinking like a professional” rings hollow when such contradictory actions unfold. If professionalism is our goal, it should permeate every aspect of our operations.

Accountability is not selective. If a team commits to the league, they commit to all their fixtures. A system that allows cherry-picking fixtures undercuts the essence of competition. We have an active first-division league, with teams like Dolphins and Okahandja Highlanders showing a serious desire to play top-tier rugby. No one should be able to do as they please for their convenience. There is no reason for any Namibian club to be that comfortable.

The only reason I believed the words of the NRU president, at first sight, was because of how professional the NRU’s approach was with the Windhoek Draught Welwitschias. You have shown you are capable - why are you taking two steps back now when you took such an important one forward earlier in the year?

If financial challenges are indeed the issue, the NRU should consider offering support to struggling teams. Solidarity within the rugby community should prevail - with teams coming together to ensure the sport’s growth.

To discourage last-minute withdrawals, a fair system of fines and penalties should be in place. These penalties shouldn’t aim to punish but to ensure that teams think twice before opting out of matches.

The path to professionalism should be a relentless pursuit of excellence, even when faced with challenges. It will require great planning, strategic foresight, and a commitment to upholding the values that rugby represents.

The recent decision by FNB Kudus Rugby Club, in the interest of their club alone, instead reflects a disregard for these principles and a regression into an unprofessional mindset.

It would genuinely have made sense if FNB Kudus Rugby Club pleaded with the NRU that they were unable to commit to any of their remaining fixtures and cried for help from their sponsors. But to withdraw from one travelling fixture and plan for the next traveling one immediately after is a mockery of the competitiveness of our league. Jirre boys!

Namibian rugby deserves better. It deserves leaders who not only talk the talk, but walk the walk - who uphold the spirit of competition and integrity and prioritize the sports. Professionalism is not just a word we should utter, but a standard we, at the very least, try to live by. Some of us have trust in y ’all, please be consistent.

* Rubrieke, meningstukke, briewe en SMS’e deur lesers en meningvormers weerspieël nie noodwendig die siening van Republikein of Namibia Media Holdings (NMH) nie. As mediahuis onderskryf NMH die etiese kode vir Namibiese media, soos toegepas deur die Media-ombudsman.