Geingob backs Welwitschias to beat Griquas
• By Michael Uugwanga
THE patron of Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) President, Hage Geingob is backing the men rugby side, nicknamed the Welwitschias to go all out and win the Dr Hage Geingob Cup slated for 05 November, where the Welwitschias will take on South African franchise ,the Griquas at the Hage Geingob Stadium.
The Welwitschias will use the Dr Hage Geingob Cup, a competition that has been traditional played as a football competition since its inception in 2014, as preparation for the country’s participation at next year’s Rugby World Cup to be staged in France.
Geingob said this at the launch of the Hage Geingob Cup last week, in a speech that was read on his behalf by the presidential press secretary, Alfredo Hengari, as the president was not at the launch due to other engagements.
“Fortunately, Griquas are not the team the president supports, so you must slaughter them, because there is a team that the president supports in South Africa.
Sport is about nation building. It is important that this year the cup will be in a rugby stadium, a reflection that he loves different sport codes.
Go and win,” Hengari said in the speech on behalf of Geingob.
The Welwitschias will once again be at the global showpiece for the seventh consecutive time when they face some of the world’s best rugby playing nations next year in France.
The Welwitschias are in pool C at the World Cup, where they will face the host nation France, former World champions, the All-Blacks, Italy and Uruguay.
The Welwitschias have been to the World Cup in 1999, 2003,2007,2011,2015 and 2019 but are yet to record a win at the tournament.