Gone too soon

Wanderers Rugby Club and friends of the late Edwardo Nell say the player will be deeply missed.
Jesse Kauraisa
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa







WINDHOEK

Wanderers Rugby Club and former teammates of the late Edwardo Nell have described the player as hardworking and a strong contributor towards the success of the rugby club.

Nell was involved in a Wanderers reserve team match over the weekend, where he picked up an injury that turned out to be fatal.

He died on Saturday evening after suffering from a broken rib, which penetrated his lung and caused internal bleeding.

Medics at the field attended to the player and he was seemingly okay after the injury, even though he did not continue to play.

“Edwardo was with four or five players at the club house and one of the players came to inform me that he was not well.

“The refs and medics went to him again and told him to get to the hospital as soon as possible.

“He was then admitted at Katutura Hospital but it was revealed that he had already bleed internally,” Wanderers' team manager Willem van Zyl said.

We will miss him

Nell had been part of Wanderers rugby club for six years and is said to have played important roles for their second team since 2015 where he won three reserve league titles.

“I myself played with Edwardo and he was always a guy who laughed and was always very positive.

“We will really miss him here at the club and we are sending our messages of condolences to his family during this difficult time,” Van Zyl added.

Namibia Ruby Union (NRU) president Corrie Mensah also conveyed his sympathies, adding that they are saddened by the sudden death of the player.

Heartbreaking

Former teammate Andre Visser expressed sorrow over the manner in which Nell lost his life.

“It is heartbreaking to hear that he is no more with us and we are really left speechless about his sudden passing.

“I played with him before and I was present at the game on Saturday when the incident happened.

“He was a strong character and he will be deeply missed by all of us,” he said.

Nell becomes the second Namibian athlete to die from injuries sustained on the field of play after a 23-year-old soccer player died after another player collided with him during the Winter Cup Tournament held at Groot Aub in 2019.

Johannes Rooinasie and another player from his team both went for a ball and clashed in the air. Rooinasie fell to the ground unconscious. He was taken to the Groot Aub Clinic and was declared dead upon arrival.

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-20

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