ANOTHER challenge waits for the u/19 rugby team of Ndzondelelo High, after they won the Mzwandile Mali Tournament earlier this month.
Coach Xolani Grootboom must now get the boys from Zwide ready for the Eastern Cape FNB Classic Clashes Festival.
Ndzondelelo is one of 12 schools which will play matches on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, at Nelson Mandela University (NMU) in Gqeberha.
The other schools are Ithembelihle, Alexandria, Ukhanyo Secondary, Mary Waters, Spandau, Kwazakhele, Mzontsundu, Booysen Park, Uitenhage, Molly Blackburn and Asherville.
Spandau (Graaff-Reinet) won last year’s tournament.
Coach Cornell George will no doubt make sure his team is ready to defend their crown.
NMU and the Eastern Province Rugby Union team up in this tournament, which aims at developing talented players from under-privileged schools.
This festival is a significant opportunity for the players to attract the attention of scouts with their performance.
They can even secure university scholarships, which will be a huge boost for their rugby and academic career.
One player who certainly will be in the spotlight is the Ndzondelelo fly-half, Sibabalwe Gwintsa.
He was named Player of the Tournament after sensational performances in the Mali matches. He gets another chance to impress the experts at the festival.
The Mzwandile Mali squad of 22 players were named after the tournament for a planned tour to England in September. Ndzondelelo produced nine players for this group.
Two Gqeberha schools, Pearson and Framesby, will be among 10 teams battling it out tomorrow, Saturday and Monday at the Kearsney Easter Festival in Durban.
Pearson made huge strides on the rugby field over the last couple of years and there is a lot of interest in their debut at this prestigious event.
Last year they surprised by beating Selborne College, and earlier this month they were equally impressive when they beat the highly-rated Queen’s College at the Graeme College Week in Makhanda.
Pearson will not play tomorrow, but will be in action on the other two days.
Framesby starts the festival with a big challenge, taking on Kearsney, who will have the backing of the home ground, tomorrow.
Fixtures for Framesby and Pearson
- Tomorrow
14:20: Framesby v Kearsney
- Saturday
09:00: Pearson v Westville
13:00: Framesby v Monument
- Monday
10:10: Framesby v Worcester Gimnasium
13:00: Pearson v Durban
FNB Classic Clashes Festival
Saturday
Stadium:
09:00: Uitenhage v Alexandria.
10:20: Spandau v Kwazakhele.
11:40: Ndzondelelo v Mzontsundu.
13:00: Molly Blackburn v Mary Waters.
14:20: Booysen Park v Ukhanyo.
15:40: Asherville v Ithembelihle.
Monday
Stadium:
08:00: Semi 1 Winner Pool A v Winner Pool B.
09:20: Semi 2 Winner Pool B v 4th Place.
12:00: Loser Semi 1 v Loser Semi 2.
14:40: Final Winner Semi 1 v Winner Semi 2.
The Mzwandile Mali tour group is: Jayson Jordan (Uitenhage), Brooklyn Tewe (Bonzai), Olwam Soya (Coselelani), Anganathi Mpahlalele (Ndzondelelo), Chinedo Emenaha (Bonzai), Sinikithemba Davids (Uitenhage), Amile Mkatshwa (Thyilulwazi), Onwabe Tanana (Ndzondelelo), Ethan Jacobs (Bonzai), Sibabalwe Gwintsa (Ndzondelelo), Keanu Goliath (Uitenhage), Bukho Hani (Thubalethu), Lunesipho Maqoma (Ndzondelelo), Siphamandla April (Thubalethu), Lisakanya Matyila, Alwaba Skosana, Kamvelihle Mlambo (all Ndzondelelo), Siphosoxolo Dano (Solomon Mahlangu), Olwam Sebe (Ndzondelelo), Jaydrian Boucher (Uitenhage), Avuyile Canda (Thubalethu), Someleze Mavata (Ndzondelelo).
