Kudus and Unam eye tough clash for Chandler Plato trophy
Club rugby
Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) premier league log leaders FNB Unam is hosting the third-placed FNB Kudu Rugby Club, this weekend. The game will be broadcast from 15:15 on NTV and oneuptwo.com/ntv.
Unam defeated Kudus 35-22 in the first round. This weekend's clash will decide which team holds the Chandler Plato Challenge floating trophy. Unam took hold of the trophy by defeating Kudus 20-13 in a thrilling NRU premier league match at Jan Wilken Stadium in 2023.
The students, with 61 points (11 wins, two defeats), out-classed Rehoboth 47-7 in their last fixture on 20 July.
Kudus out-pointed FNB Grootfontein 25-21 at Walvis Bay last weekend and has so far collected 53 points (10 wins, three defeats).
Chrysander Botha, technical advisor of Kudus, said: “We are still determining how our situation looks in terms of injuries and players that will be unable to travel due to work commitments. At least we will have Lloyd Jacobs (wing or full-back) back from national duty.”
Botha expects Unam to field a full-strength team with all their national team players back from Uganda after at the Rugby Africa Cup.
“This is a grudge match. None of the two teams will give it up without a fight and it is going to be very physical. Unam is one of the best structured clubs in the land, with very gifted players at their disposal. We know ex-factor players can be the difference on the day.”
Seven Unam players – Alcino Izaacs (centre), Mahepisa Tjeriko (lock), Jason Benade (prop), Desiderius Sethie (prop), Quirione Majiedt (wing), Kistings Minyoi (loose forward) and Diamando Tjombe (lock) – did duty for Allister Coetzee in Uganda.
According to Botha, Kudus worked hard on their consistency and combinations. “This can also be a decisive factor. Unam plays a high-pressure game. They force opponents to make mistakes and then pounce with speed.
“The team that makes the least mistakes and handles the pressure the best, will walk away as winners.”
Unam head coach, Russel van Rooi, said playing Kudus is always a tough assignment.
“We had a bye weekend and some of our players came back injured from national duty. Playing for the Chandler Plato Challenge floating trophy is something big for us. Uncle Chandler was someone close to Unam and we do not want to let the trophy go to the coast.”
Van Rooi says his charges will be up for the challenge. “Kudus build their play around their forwards and thus the collisions will be massive. It is going to be one of the biggest games of the second round.”
Centre Alcino Izaacs, who also captained Unam and was away on national duty in Uganda, confirmed that he would sit out the match against Kudus. In his absence, the team has performed well under the leadership of hooker Gerhard Thirion.
“My body is still aching. I am not sure if my other national team colleagues will be ready to play. I watched the match we played against Rehoboth. The players did well without the regulars who represented the country in Uganda. We have depth in our team,” Izaacs said.
Other fixtures
Trustco United (fifth) will take on Simonis Storm Dolphin (ninth) at United, FNB Grootfontein (fourth) will host FNB Western Suburbs (eighth) in Grootfontein and FNB Rehoboth (seventh) will clash with FNB Reho Falcon (sixth) in a local derby.