'Smash' enjoys his Japan adventure

Namibia’s participation at this year’s Rugby World Cup will undoubtedly go down as one of the highlights of the year. Although the Welwitschias did not win any of their four games at the global event, the team gained the respect of the rest of rugby world with their performance. Gutsy, determined and fearless are some of the words that come to mind when describing Namibia’s performance. These were the team’s general traits, but one man constantly embodied all of those characteristics. The mere mention of the name Renaldo Bothma conjures up memories of a team that eagerly tackled the mighty All Blacks in spite of the odds against them. Bothma went to the Rugby World Cup with very few people aware of his immense talent but left with a good number eager to know more about the player, who is making the moniker ‘Smash’ his own. Namibian Sun got in touch with the player, who is currently playing for Toyota Verblitz in Japan. Bothma, who is signed to the Sharks franchise in Super Rugby, says although there are differences in terms of playing style, he is enjoying playing in Asia. “Japan has been an absolute blast and I am having a great time here,” he said via email. “I have been training like a demon here for the last six weeks and enjoying the rugby. It is definitely something different to Super Rugby as it is a very fast-paced game and they tackle really low. “So you have to adapt your running style a bit, but luckily I have adapted really well.” Culture shock In addition to the playing style, Bothma has also had to deal with cultural differences, some of which have been a pleasant surprise. “The Japanese have a really high work ethic, so I’ve learned a lot from them in that sense. They are really kind people and are so keen to learn from us as foreign players,” he says. “The real test is the language: It’s not easy speaking or understanding Japanese. But we have lessons every week. So I am picking up some Japanese here and there,” he said. His home for the next Super Rugby season will be with the Sharks in South Africa. Bothma admits that he will have his work cut out when he returns to Durban, given that there were some changes at the coastal franchise. “A lot of changes have been made at the Sharks with me missing the whole pre-season. “I will have to work hard again to prove my worth to the team. So my first priority is to get back into the team.” Confidence Bothma says Namibia’s participation at the Rugby World Cup helped boost his confidence. “We have learned so much out of this experience and definitely gain a lot for our squad. “I think to be playing against the world’s best players just helps you in building confidence and to measure yourself against the best… So I think the World Cup was a great success even though we didn’t win our first game,” he added. The national team is to lose its most iconic figure after Welwitschias captain Jacques Burger announced his retirement. That has prompted some to name Bothma as heir apparent. The 26-year-old says the team will certainly “miss Jacques [because] I think he is a great leader and he leads by example”. He added, though, that he will not shy away from the responsibility of leading the team, should he be deemed worthy. “I think it’s very important for Namibian rugby to keep growing and to build on where we left off… [and] if the opportunity [to captain the Welwitschias] comes my way, I will definitely not hesitate to take it. It will be a huge honour to lead the team,” he stated. Nickname Bothma’s rise has been made noteworthy by the word ‘Smash’, which he has written on his arm during matches. So, what is the story behind the name? “It’s just something I started doing this year in Super Rugby as a mental thing that just helps me to stay focused and to be on full alert. And obviously that is what I try to achieve in my game most of the time,” he says. HECTOR MAWONGA