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Learning curve for the lads from Namibia
By Rangi Akbar
With the Under 19 World Cup around the corner cricket fever has gripped the nation. Namibia, one of the teams contesting in the event, had a limb-loosener yesterday against D.S. Senanayake at Gregory’s Road.

The Namibians were impressive and obviously not champion stuff.
“If we are able to shock one or two teams we will be more than satisfied,” said coach Andy Waller, a former Zimbabwe cricketer who cracked 85 against Australia in the World Cup competition in Australia (1992) and who also played against Sri Lanka when the side led by Arjuna Ranatunga bagged the World Cup and turned the cricket world upside down in 1996.

Andy Waller, a farmer by profession, lost his property in Zimbabwe due to the political upheaval there and then turned his sights on cricket training.
He grabbed the opportunity when a chance came his way to train the Namibian under 19 side.

“The boys are good. Most of them are Under 17. The contest in Sri Lanka will be a good training ground for future contests,” said Waller.
The Manager of the team Jacques Fryer elaborated that cricket was not the number one sport in Namibia. “Soccer comes high up in the ladder. Rugby is second and cricket comes next. There is a lot of enthusiasm for cricket especially amongst the youngsters.

The teams currently touring Sri Lanka are all Namibian nationals. They are very enthusiastic and keen, which speaks volumes for their efforts. There are about 4000 cricketers in Namibia,” emphasized Fryer.

This is the third time that Namibia is taking part in a junior world cup. The first time was in 1998 when they participated in the event held in Sri Lanka in 1998.

According to Fryer they are bound to meet stern opposition in the contest starting on February 5 and their main aim is to do well in the super league.
“We must win at least two matches in the main competition to be in contention. Our main contenders will be Scotland, Sri Lanka or India,” said Fryer.

The side is led by S.I. Ackerman, a reputed batsman and the others the team will bank on are Henno Prinsloo, an all-rounder, opening bowler Florismarx and all-rounder L.P. Vanderwesthurzen.

Fryer went on to say that school cricket is extremely popular in Namibia.
“We have trained at the Austasia Sports Complex indoor nets and at the Premadasa Stadium.

The facilities at these two venues are tremendous”, he said adding that the Sri Lankans are extremely friendly. The team speaks Afrikaans, a language common in South Africa and English.

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