A pupil from Nombulelo Secondary School in Grahamstown has made her school and community proud by being selected as a wing for the South African U20 national rugby team for girls.
Ntomboxolo Nanto, 20, from Joza Extension 3, was selected for the trials in December 2010 and has now been selected to play centre and wing for the team.
A pupil from Nombulelo Secondary School in Grahamstown has made her school and community proud by being selected as a wing for the South African U20 national rugby team for girls.
Ntomboxolo Nanto, 20, from Joza Extension 3, was selected for the trials in December 2010 and has now been selected to play centre and wing for the team.
She represented her community and team when she was chosen to play against the Lions for the Eastern Province (EP) team earlier this month where she scored a try.
While her passion for rugby and her undeniable talent are what drive this young woman, it is her persistence and humbleness that make her achievements notable. At the age of 11, she began netball and athletics and took part in the annual eco-challenge events that took place at her school.
She has two trophies for being the best player in the local schools' annual netball tournaments, and second woman in the 2008 provincial eco-challenge.
"Every sport she plays, she comes out on top," said Sabelo Bill, Nanto's fitness trainer. "Nanto is very hard-working and determined."
When she was growing up, Nanto wanted to become a musician and she was the lead singer in the choir at primary school. But she realised that as time passed, so did her voice and began trying new adventures. Rugby was one of them.
“I was just trying it out, then I slowly began to enjoy it and I started going to practices every day,” said Nanto.
Her mother, Nosamkelo Nanto, did not approve of her daughter playing a ‘’guys'’’ sport, and forbade her from going to practices. But when she saw how much Nanto loved it, she slowly gave in.
“She would even remind me that I must not be late for it,’’ Nanto said. In 2007, she could no longer juggle rugby and netball, so she chose rugby. She still trained and attended netball matches when she could, but rugby was her priority.
Since 2008, she has been playing scrumhalf for her neighbourhood club, the Wanderers, and has been selected to play wing and centre for the Eastern Province (EP) team
She loves romantic movies and stories and, as a little girl, it was Barbie rather than Action Man that she played with. Nanto may be a typical girl, but when it comes to sport, she models her game on her favourite players, Springbok wing Brian Habana and New Zealand centre, Ma’a Allan Nonu.
“They crush, run – and never end a match without scoring a goal – like me,’’ said Nanto. And it shows. "She no longer trains with her girl colleagues, she trains with the guys now," said Bill.
