{"id":49154,"date":"2021-03-18T11:49:51","date_gmt":"2021-03-18T09:49:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/madibaz-primes-for-return-to-varsity-cup-20210317-2\/"},"modified":"2025-03-21T09:18:47","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T07:18:47","slug":"madibaz-primes-for-return-to-varsity-cup-20210317-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/madibaz-primes-for-return-to-varsity-cup-20210317-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Madibaz primes for return to Varsity Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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<\/p>\n

The FNB Madibaz rugby team are geared up for their return to the Varsity Cup when the competition gets under way next month. Photo:MICHAEL SHEEHAN<\/div>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

THE FNB Madibaz rugby squad are facing a Varsity Cup with a difference but are committed to making their mark when the tournament kicks off early next month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Nelson Mandela University outfit have returned to the top-flight after spending two years in the Varsity Shield tournament, gaining promotion following the truncated 2020 edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the guidance of new coach Andre Tredoux and his assistants, Lubabalo Lento and Luvuyo Mhlobiso, the players are looking forward to proving themselves at the highest varsity level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s tournament will take place at University of Pretoria where bio-secure bubbles will be created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will play three games in seven days and then return to PE for a week, and then repeat the cycle to complete the nine pool games,\u201d said Tredoux.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After several months of conditioning, the coach said there was \u201ca positive vibe in the camp\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOver December and January we worked very hard on our fitness and due to Covid regulations the players had to do it on their own,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have been hugely impressed by the improvements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis month we are working on skills and more fitness, and are a week into the contact phase of the preparations. The players are really working hard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Madibaz mentor added he was pleased with the players\u2019 attitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe guys have responded well and I can see everyone is excited to be training and they are enjoying what they do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a team we want to establish Madibaz as a Varsity Cup brand of the future and our expectations are to be competitive in every game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe know it will be a tough challenge, but we will focus on sticking to our processes as we aim to make the university proud.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tredoux has named loose forward Luyolo Dapula as the Madibaz captain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want to be seen as a team rather than individuals but Luyolo (flank), along with Temba Boltina (hooker), Aya Oliphant (centre), Gavin Mills (scrumhalf) and Tiaan Schutte (centre), will be some of our key players,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assistant coaches Lento and Mhlobiso have played important roles in the players\u2019 preparations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lento pays attention to the scrum, team skills and defence, while backline coach Mhlobiso focuses on, among other things, strike moves and counter-attacks, game-specific planning and decision-making. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ISSUED: Full Stop Communications<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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