The first fully-fledged Namibian women’s rugby league reaches its climax on Saturday when Trustco United take on FNB Unam in the final at the Hage Geingob Stadium.
Last year the league had a once-off final that Wanderers won 28-0 against Rehoboth, but this year is the first time that a full-scale league has been held with home and away matches over a 12-match season.
The competition was intense, with nothing much separating the top teams and at the end of the league, Unam just pipped Wanderers on points aggregate to the top spot after they both finished on 53 points, while United finished third, just four points behind.
In the semifinals two weeks ago, United beat Wanderers the first time this year to book their place in the final. Wanderers beat them in both their league encounters – 22-10 on 10 June and 8-7 on 5 August, and their semifinal two weeks ago once again went down to the wire, before United emerged 23-22 winners.
In that match, United showed great resolve to overturn a 22-13 deficit early in the second half, as constant pressure by their forwards led to a penalty try, before utility back Fulchen Bock scored the winning penalty in the closing stages.
They have a strong pack of forwards, led by their inspirational captain and eighthwoman Geraldine Louw; and including her fellow loose-forwards, the twin sisters Chevonne and Rhevonne de Klerk; lock forwards Bonita Jossob and Rosalia Valindi; and front rankers Esmerelda Fuchs and Elmone Rhode.
They have some exciting backs, including the experienced Bock; wingbacks Roberta Fabio and Richardine Gaya, and halfbacks Michelle Slinger and Mbitjita Matuzee.
In their semifinal against Wanderers, Slinger had to leave the field due to concussion just before halftime, but it is expected that she will have recovered and be available for Saturday’s final.
United’s coach Greyling Koopman said they are looking forward to a great match.
“It’s a great privilege to play in the final, and the girls are really looking forward to the match. It will be their first league final, so it’s going to be a great experience for them,” he said.
Koopman said he expected Slinger to be cleared for the final.
“She has recovered well and will go and see the doctor on Friday to get her medical clearance for the match, and I think she will be OK.”
Regarding the outcome, Koopman said it was a close call.
“We’ve done everything we can to be optimally prepared for the match, so now it just depends on the performance on the field and who wants to win it the most,” he said.
Unam had an easier passage to the final, beating Kudus 37-3 in their semifinal a fortnight ago. Their wingback Ivonne Kooper was the star of the show, scoring five tries, while eighthwoman Mandy Hansen scored one.
Kooper and fellow wingback Fiola Vliete have been two of their outstanding players this season, scoring numerous tries with their pace and ingenuity, but they might not be available for Saturday’s final, due to their football commitments. Both players, as well as fellow back Lydiana Nanamus are part of the Brave Gladiators squad that is preparing for their African Cup of Nations qualifier against Gambia, and by yesterday it was still uncertain whether they will be released for the rugby final.
Unam’s team manager Valerie Basson, however, was not too concerned about their availability, saying that they had sufficient depth to take on United.
“They were also unavailable due to football when we lost 15-7 to United in the league, but we should have won that match, we just lost because of silly mistakes, so I think we have enough depth to beat United,”she said.
Unam has a powerful pack with players like Hansen, Faith Tjambari, Eunice Pollmann, Yasmin Abdul-Karim and another football player Chanteline Engelbrecht all shining this season, whilst among the backs Elzanne Basson, Kayla-Ann Tjombe and Jeomba Tjiramba have been in fine form.
The two finalists weighed up very evenly in the league, with their first encounter on 13 May ending in a 13-all draw, before United won the second one 15-7 on 15 July, and Saturday’s final should once again be a close affair.
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