Namibia qualified for the Super 12s in their inaugural T20 World Cup on Friday, but coach Pierre De Bruyn claimed his squad isn’t finished yet, promising a challenging performance against great sides like India, Pakistan, and New Zealand.
Namibia qualified for the Super 12s on Friday after overcoming Ireland in their final group match.
“Yeah, look, it’s time for us to reflect and also enjoy this moment, but we certainly didn’t come here just to go and lie down now,” de Bruyn said.
“Facing countries like India, Pakistan, and New Zealand will be a fantastic learning experience for young players, but we want to be competitive in everything we do, with the ball, bat, in the field, the way we present ourselves, and the way we compete, so we’re looking forward to it.”
Namibia, a small country with a population of roughly 25 lakh people, has accomplished a remarkable feat. The team, on the other hand, has demonstrated what it is capable of achieving even with little resources.
T20 World Cup
“We’ve made history now, advancing to the Super 12. First time ever we’re going to play against these guys in a T20 World Cup. We are going to enjoy the next 24 hours or so and then we’re going to sit down as a group again and we’re going to put some goals on the table,” said de Bruyn.
“Yes, we have,” the coach answered when asked about the remarkable achievement. We qualified and received our ODI status in April of this year. This made a significant difference. I had three full-time contract players on my team. That enabled me to sign 16 full-time contract players with only ODI status, giving us the opportunity to grow.
“However, when it comes to standard resources, we’re significantly behind full members in terms of facilities, full-time coaches, full-time SNCs, physicians, and everything else. However, we have a saying that we must find a way.”
De Bruyn believes it is critical to take advantage of opportunities on the big stage.
“As a coach, I’ve made it a point to make sure that the players and we as a group make the most of our opportunity.” We don’t have everything, but moments like this, when we’re sitting here winning a cricket match and knowing that we’ll be playing in the World Cup the next year, are priceless.
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