National Team selection riles rugby players

Calistus Kolantsho
Correspondent | Friday July 3, 2009 00:00

 

A representative of the players, who preferred anonymity, said the majority of players who were selected for the Eight-Nations Championship did not play in the just ended BRU league. He said they are not entirely impressed with the selection. 'Most of the players that are in the squad are whites (who do not deserve to be there) and there is favouritism in the selection,' the players' representative said. The north is home to reigning league champions, Eastern Military Garrison (EMG) Gunners of Selebi-Phikwe, Francistown Sharks and Tuskers.  The players' representative said there are other burning issues in rugby such as unpaid allowances for the Vultures' game in Tunisia last year. He said when the players inquired about the allowances, they were told the BRU is broke.  BRU secretary, Oupa Phando said a pool of players from all clubs were called for trials where the selection for the Vultures' squad was done. Phando said he was not present when the final team was selected but he pointed out that the decision was unanimous. He said if the players had raised a complaint, it would have been resolved by the technical committee. 'There are four players from EMG Gunners who were selected and one of them failed to make the grade, while the other two did not turn up for training,' he explained. 

Phando said he could not dispute what the players are saying because they have the right to express themselves. He explained that they cannot judge a player by what he says but they will look into the complaint about unfair selection.  

Meanwhile, Phando said the Eight-Nations Championships will start on July 15 and end on July 19 at the University of Botswana. Lesotho, Mauritius, Madagascar, Re-Union, Zambia and Zimbabwe and the Vultures will take part in the event. Phando said Madagascar start as favourites because of their ranking. Swaziland has pulled out of the tournament.