The head coach of Namibia’s national rugby team, Allister Coetzee says he expects his team to show how they can handle pressure and execute the team’s game plan when they face Kenya in the World Rugby/Rugby Africa Stellenbosch Challenge Tournament on Sunday.
Speaking from their training base in Stellenbosch where the team has been camped since Sunday, Coetzee told Nampa in an interview Thursday this is a platform for his players to grow as a team towards participation for the 2023 World Cup in France.
“There is a lot of energy and excitement in the camp. The players are really working hard along with the coaching staff. The players are keen and enthusiastic, everything is going well,” he said.
He added that the players are absorbing as much as they can from the coaching staff and seem well prepared.
Coetzee said besides the results, the expectation from these games is for the team to showcase their skills set while under pressure, decision-making and execution.
“We are working on our team to show a bit of cohesion and execute the plan we have and players with individual brilliance also showcase it. This is a process to build towards qualifying for the 2023 World Cup,” he explained.
The former Springboks coach added that they do not really know much about the opponents, but respect Zimbabwe and Kenya who are rugby playing nations, while Brazil seem to be doing well as evidenced by their recent matches against the United States and Canada.
The tournament will take place from 14 to 20 November 2021 at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport where Namibia, Brazil, Zimbabwe and Kenya will participate, with the games used as ranking test matches.
Namibia will play Kenya while Zimbabwe face Brazil on Sunday, 14 November, with the two winners playing the final on Saturday, 20 November and the losers playing in the third and fourth playoff match.
The tournament will serve as an opportunity for the Welwitschias to prepare for the final qualification competition next year for the 2023 World Cup.
Namibia, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Kenya, Uganda, Algeria, Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso will contest from 02 to 10 July 2022 in France.
The winner will automatically qualify for the 2023 World Cup that will also be held in that country.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
