Proteas vice-captain in the T20I format, Bjorn Fortuin, stated that following the loss to Namibia in the first match of the three-match series in Windhoek, an exchange of 'a couple of sharp words' took place in the dressing room.
This marked the second consecutive defeat for Proteas against the hosts at the Namibia Cricket Ground, following a humiliating loss in last year's opening match. Although both defeats were suffered by the second-string teams, Fortuin emphasized that Proteas should not lose to their neighbors from Southwest Africa, regardless of the squad selected.
He noted that despite the short format potentially bringing teams closer, the gap between them is vast, comparable to the Namib Desert, which is highlighted by Namibia's lack of its own internal structure compared to South Africa's multi-tiered system, culminating in the lucrative Betway SA20 tournament.
Before the final group meeting against Namibia on Friday, Fortuin said they held several discussions about what the team and individual players could improve, and these principles would apply regardless of the opponent. He added that there were 'a couple of sharp words' and 'a couple of direct conversations,' and he hopes this will help in the final matches.
Fortuin stressed that his team is making efforts to correct the situation and does not experience psychological issues when facing Namibia. He said: 'I wouldn't say there is too big a psychological barrier.' He continued that, obviously, they aim to perform well in the concluding part of the series, but admits that in both instances, they were defeated by a stronger team for different reasons, whether it was higher intensity or better knowledge of the conditions by the opponents.
Fortuin categorically rejected any possibility of justifying these defeats, stating that no one prepares to lose when a team is preparing for matches or series. His mission is always victory, regardless of the opponent. He believes that players must respect the game and not take victories for granted, as every win brings certain progress. He thinks that the young players understood this quite early during the tour, when the defeat to Namibia occurred, which served as a 'sharp awakening' for them. Thus, he emphasized the need to accept both wins and losses with dignity.
Proteas recovered their standing after the loss to Namibia by securing consecutive victories over Zimbabwe, which effectively guaranteed them a spot in the final on Sunday; however, they would like to get rid of this 'gorilla' even before Friday.