Tragedy strikes Rehoboth rugby community 

The Rehoboth rugby community was in mourning yesterday with the news that the chairman of FNB Reho Falcon Rugby Club, Ettienne Coetzee, two of his sons, Edmando and Ethan, and a friend, Greshlinn Bruwer had died in a motorcar accident on Saturday evening. 

Deon Mouton, vice president of Falcons confirmed the news yesterday, saying it happened at about 22h00 after they returned from Windhoek where they had played against FNB Wanderers.

“The accident happened barely 5km from Rehoboth, and from what I heard there was cattle in the road and a truck and another vehicle involved. Ettienne, Edmando and Ethan died in the accident, as well as their friend Greschlin Bruwer. Ettienne’s wife Luisa and their youngest son Luke were taken to hospital,” he said.

Mouton said it was a huge loss for the Rehoboth community. 

“It is a huge loss for our club as well as the Rehoboth community. Ettienne was a stalwart of our club and always went out of his way to help others in the community. To lose him and his family members is a huge blow for the Rehoboth community,” he said. 

“My son Gerswin was the first to come across the accident and afterwards the whole team gathered to mourn the loss at our coach Frank Isaacs’ house,” he added. 

The Coetzee family were prominent members of Reho Falcons, with Edmando captaining the first team against Wanderers on Saturday, while Ethan also played for Falcons. Greschlin Bruwer was a son of former Brave Warriors goalkeeper Danzyl Bruwer. 

By yesterday morning, messages of condolence started streaming in on the Namibia Rugby Union’s whatssap rugby group. 

“The NRU extends its deepest condolences during this difficult time. The loss of a loved one is never easy, and our thoughts are with the Coetzee family and Reho Falcons Rugby Club as they navigate through this period of grief and sorrow. Please know that you are not alone, and may you find strength and comfort in each other as you mourn the passing of your beloved. Our sincere sympathies to all who knew and cared for them,” John Heynes, the CEO of the NRU said. 

“On behalf of Wanderers Rugby Club, the void left will sorely be felt. This loss to Reho Falcons and the Coetzee family can’t be described. Our hearts go out to everyone left heartbroken. The work he did at Reho Falcons and the lives he touched through rugby will leave behind a lasting legacy,” Daan Dumont of Wanderers said. 

“On behalf of Western Suburbs, our sincere condolences to the Coetzee family and Reho Falcon Rugby Club – you are in our prayers and thoughts,” Migiel Booysen of Western Suburbs Rugby Club said. 

Earlier on Saturday, Falcons suffered a heavy 73-21 defeat to Wanderers in Pionierspark. 

Wanderers, who led 33-0 at halftime, ran in a total of 11 tries to gain maximum bonus points, with Obert Nortje scoring three, Nandi Karuuombe two, and Geraldo Beukes, Tareekuye Tjipute, Jacques Theron, Darius von Solms, Ignus Tripodi and Romario van Wyk one each. 

Flyhalf Andre van der Berg added nine conversions for a personal tally of 18 points. 

Falcons made a spirited comeback with three tries in the second half by Brian Bayer, Johannes Paulus and Casey Beukes but by then the outcome was a foregone conclusion. Beukes also added two conversions and Enrique Husselmann one. 

That win saw Wanderers moving up to second place on the log on 16 points, while FNB Unam stretched their lead to five points at the top after a convincing 38-7 victory against FNB Rehoboth. 

Aljarreau Zaahl contributed 14 points with two tries and two penalties, while Alcino Izaacs, Quirone Majiedt, Graham April and Lesley Klim also scored tries, and Raschano van Rooi added a penalty and a conversion. 

FNB Kudus, meanwhile, beat FNB Dolphins 26-0 in the coastal derby to go third on the log on 15 points. 

They scored four tries through Jarren Koning (two), Craig Swartz and Scott Winborn, who added three conversions for a personal tally of 11 points.  

At Suburbs Park, the defending champions Trustco United got their first win of the season when they beat FNB Western Suburbs 34-23. 

United scored five tries through Lorenzo Louis, Jandre Esterhuyzen, Morgan Esterhuizen, Bronwon Willemse and Hanreco van Zyl, who added three conversions, while Willemse added a penalty.  

Suburbs scored two tries through Erich Shivute and Dhale Cloete, while Rudi Pretorius added two conversions and three penalties.