FNB Maties captain Ezekiel Ngobeni has quickly become one of South Africa’s rising rugby stars. In the first two rounds of the FNB Varsity Cup 2025, his leadership and skill were pivotal in Maties’ victories.
In round one, Ngobeni played a key role in a 41-37 win over the defending champions, FNB UFS Shimlas, earning the Player That Rocks award. He followed up with a brilliant performance in a 29-27 win over FNB NWU Eagles, showcasing his pace and decision-making.
Ngobeni’s rugby journey began in Ravensmead, Cape Town, where he first watched the locals playing touch rugby.
“I immediately fell in love with the game, and ever since my passion for rugby has just grown,” he reflects.
His rapid rise included selection for the Junior Springboks in 2024 for the inaugural U20 Rugby Championship in Australia.
Despite his success on the field, Ngobeni balances rugby with academic excellence. He won the Gallagher Award for Best Student in Agricultural Studies and was named Junior Back of the Year in 2023 and Junior Player of the Year in 2024 at the Maties Rugby Awards.
“It’s amazing to be part of Maties Rugby, and being a recipient of any award is an even greater privilege,” he says.
Ngobeni’s versatility, able to play scrumhalf, fullback, or wing, makes him an invaluable asset to Maties.
“A scrumhalf is always involved in the game, and I love being at the center of the action,” he says. Maties head coach Kabamba Floors praises Ngobeni’s leadership, noting, “He leads with his actions and his words, bringing energy to the field.”
Maties backline coach Craig Barry believes Ngobeni is a natural scrumhalf but was only utilized on the wing because of his versatility, his speed and footwork.
“He is a natural footballer with a great vision for the game. He can anticipate a lot of things before a lot of other players see it coming. That is what makes him special. Besides his obvious talent, Eziekiel’s tremendous work ethic makes his future in rugby look bright,” added Barry.
By: Adnaan Mohamed via varsitycup.com