In Loving Memory of ‘Captain Fantastic’
Gerhard Mans 1962-2022
The name Gerhard Mans is synonymous with Namibian rugby, as the much-adored moustachioed high flying
winger will go down in history as one of the most accomplished oval ball chasers to have ever graced local rugby pitches.
During his flawless rugby playing career, Mans was
a valuable member of the all-conquering South West Africa (SWA) side in the mid 80s, and will be best remembered for his eyecatching performance when the Namibian amateurs
stunned the South African rugby followers by stopping hosts Western Province right in their tracks at their fortress Newlands Stadium in Cape Town on a rainy Saturday afternoon in 1988. Final score: South West Africa (SWA)/Namibia 24-21 Western Province.
Mans is not only known in rugby circles as a phenomenal winger, he was much adored by many and will go down in history as one of the finest athletes of all time.
Playing for the youthful giant killers, famously known as the Biltongboere, under the watchful eye of the late Oom Henning Snyman, Mans formed an amazing telepathic partnership with rugby greats, Andre Stoop, Shaun McCully, Willem Maritz, Sarel Losper, Leon Stoop, Bassie Buitendag, Chris Senekal, Heinrich ‘Soppies’ de Waal, Arra van der Merwe, and Eden Meyer.
Who would ever forget that breathtaking solo try against Northern Transvaal (Blue Bulls) in Pretoria, when the stocky Namibian winger masterfully zig-zagged his way between bemused defenders to dot down a one of the best tries.
Even though the South West Africa amateurs lost the tie at the intimidating Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, Mans certainly left a long-lasting impression after the match.
Such was his influence
and consistent displays that he was selected for the starstudded Barbarians team alongside compatriot Andre Stoop. Mans was a product of the revered Wennie du Plessis High School in Gobabis before he relocated to the city of bright lights (Windhoek).
Mans wasted little time and found suitable shelter with Pionierspark outfit Wanderers Rugby Club, where he played his club rugby, winning several silverwares whilst wearing the captain’s armband with distinction.
He would go on to score an astonishing tally of six tries against a hapless Portugal in an 86-9 thrashing at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek, to announce Namibia’s arrival on the international rugby arena.
His death has left many people with more questions than answers. It was reported by the Informante that an eye witness, and fellow cyclist, Jaco Lambrecht, a close buddy of the deceased who happened to be amongst a number of cyclists on the Western Bypass when the accident happened, narrated the sad moments of the unfortunate accident.
A Botswana national behind the wheel of a white BMW sedan without number plates and no license disc approached the unsuspecting cyclists at high speed.
“I turned around at the Okapuka bridge, desperate to catch up with him (Gerhard), so that we could ride together to where Andre was just before the Elisenheim bridge, I could clearly see Gerhard in front of me. I passed under thebridgeandwaved at Gerhard Junior (Mans’ son), as he went past me on the other side of the road en route to the Okahandja roadblock. Next moment, there was commotion on the road in front of me with a Police kombi hurriedly pulling onto the road sideways,” reported Informante.
“I immediately saw Gerhard lying motionless on the shoulder of the road. Andre came over to me asking whether it was Gerhard senior to which I replied in affirmation. Another cyclist who had a punctured tyre stood next to Gerhard, and witnessed everything that happened at that moment.
“He told Andre and I that the driver in the white BMW was speeding on the Western Bypass with police cars chasing him after spotting him for chatting on his mobile phone. Up next, he swerved over the yellow line hitting Gerhard at full speed. The car came to a standstill almost 100m away from the scene of the accident, as police were closing him down.”
The eye witness, according to Informante, further told Lamprecht that the cops conducted an on-the-spot alcohol blow test on the driver that read 0.23. The driver of the unlicensed car was subsequently arrested on the scene.