By Nothando Yolanda Tshuma
From 1 July to 5 July, the University Sport South Africa (USSA) rugby tournament will take place at the Rhodes University Prospect field. USSA develops and promotes university sports in South Africa, aiming to elevate the standard of sports at university level. Its goal is to cultivate talent that will represent South Africa on an international stage.
“It is exciting to have the USSA tournament in Makhanda and I think it will be good for the town as it correlates with the National Arts Festival,” says Lathitha Jodwana (22), the captain and loose forward of the men’s rugby team. Sharing his enthusiasm, Tatenda Kandengwa (20), a left wing on the men’s rugby team, states, “The USSA being held in Makhanda is a home-ground advantage but also gives us the pressure to perform and deliver good results.”
This tournament is crucial for the rugby team as it offers them a chance to secure a spot in next year’s Varsity Shield. USSA debutants Ntsika Mduba (19), an Inside Center, and Yaya Potelwa (19), a Prop, expressed that the pressure of the USSA tournament is immense, but it motivates the team to improve. This year, the team faces the challenge of losing senior players who significantly contributed to their past success, resulting in a young squad for the tournament. Despite this, Lathitha remains confident that the team will perform to the best of their abilities and hopefully achieve good results.
Photo: Nothando Yolanda Tshuma
The four players all affirm that their rugby journey commenced during their primary school years, highlighting their enduring passion for the sport and their continual dedication to enhancing their performance for upcoming matches. With the USSA tournament looming less than three weeks away, the Rhodes’ men’s rugby team, known as the Stallions, has initiated training sessions in preparation for the anticipated tough competition. Under the guidance of their coaches, including Unathi Kongwana (head coach), Viwe Makeleni (assistant coach) and Bukhosi Mhlambiso (assistant coach), the team has focused extensively on fitness training. Additionally, in two weeks’ time, the team will embark on a week-long rugby training camp aimed at refining their skills and addressing any weaknesses.
Heading into the tournament, Kandengwa hopes to relive the moment from 2023 when they defeated the University of KwaZulu-Natal on their home ground, after having been beaten by them on their own turf in the Varsity Shield. That victory was a pivotal moment for the team, proving they have the capability to win against top-tier teams. Therefore, he urges the community of Makhanda to “give us another chance and watch us change the narrative”.
“Having a crowd happily cheering from the stands after scoring a try is a surreal moment and a surreal experience and it also encourages a player in those 80 minutes,” Mduba and Potelwa agreed, when asked who is the face behind the Rhodes University mascot, Rhodie.
With the Stallions’ opening match against Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) at the Rhodes University Prospect field at 3pm on 1 July, the players encourage the community to go to the field and show support in numbers, and then maybe the identity of Rhodie will be revealed.
