On Wednesday 23-year-old Unathi Kongwana leaves to play in his first national Sevens tournament with the EP Kings in Kimberley on 1 and 2 November.
On Wednesday 23-year-old Unathi Kongwana leaves to play in his first national Sevens tournament with the EP Kings in Kimberley on 1 and 2 November.
The former Eastern (Amangwevu) rugby club star player says he's very excited to represent the province.
"This is a great opportunity," he told Grocott's Mail. "I love Sevens more than the 15-man rugby and making it onto the side is a great achievement."
Over and above the honour of being one of the 12 players selected for the squad, Kongwana says he's looking forward to rubbing shoulders with some of the best players of the province.
But his achievements are more than a personal victory.
According to Qondakele Sompongo, who coached Kongwana while he was on the Rhodes University first team, his Sevens squad selection serves as a motivation to all Grahamstown rugby players.
Sompongo hopes this will inspire local teams to reach higher leagues like Grand Challenge League where scouts can see their talent.
"I hope that Grahamstown… plays harder so that players don't need to go out of town in order for them to be noticed," Sompongo said.
Kongwana says he's working very hard to maintain a high standard of rugby that will see him properly absorbed into the provincial structures.
According to an article on the Grassrootsrugby website, EP Kings coach Eric Toring is keen to see what results will come of the team he assembled for next weekend's tournament.
“I went for a tried-and-tested group, but blended it with the excitement and flair of the youth in Unathi Kongwana [and others]… I’m really excited with what I have this year,” Toring was quoted as saying.
Kongwana currently lives in Grahamstown and coaches rugby at Nathaniel Nyaluza Secondary School. He also plays for Port Elizabeth team African Bombers.
