Ahead of USSA, we connected with our Varsity Cup captains, Ezekiel Ngobeni, Carel van der Merwe and Liza Slabbert to get their take on their Maties experience.
All three describe their Maties Rugby experience as one of enormous personal growth that has taught them teamwork, self-discipline, strategic planning, communication and leadership skills, and provided them with life skills beyond what many acquire. And the words they use most are “honour” and “privilege”.
At the outset, it is evident that being Captain is all about setting the ego aside and using skills in service to their fellow teammates to strive for a collective goal. Ezekiel, in fact, seems incapable of speaking in the first person when it comes to his rugby career or life! There is no “I” – just “we”, “our”, “their” and “us”.
Likewise, with Liza and Carel, their story is all about humble pride, gratitude and privilege in being part of the Maties Squad – specially in this 150 Legacy year – and an overwhelming sense of duty to do their best for the team, club and fans.
Ezekiel, a third-year BCom student in Agricultural Economics, and resident in Wilgenof, attributes his sense of service to his Christian family values. “These were instilled in us by our parents through their actions, not just words,” he says.
He was drawn to rugby as a child while watching community players in their recreational touch rugby games. “I loved the weaving and speed. I think that since playing mini-rugby in Grade R, it’s become part of my DNA.”
His intro to Maties came about after hiking at Coetzenburg, when he saw the first team training, and decided to “show-off” his ball skills on the side lines. He was noticed … by Head Coach Kabamba Floors! Fast forward a few years and now Ezekiel is a fan and player favourite who gets the heart racing during play … and nearly stopping when a tackle during a Varsity Cup UCT clash saw him touch down with his head before the ball.
He shrugs off the incident. “Injury is part of the game. It wasn’t about me being out for half the competition. There was a whole, excellent team, a plan … and Carel was there to take the lead. That we made it to the finals and did not take the Cup is unfortunate but we don’t wallow. Our mistakes don’t define us. We learn and let then rather shape us.”
Ezekiel, who has experienced international play as an U20 Springbok, says, however, that the biggest goosebump moment for him so far was running out into the DC in front of a sea of maroon fans for the first time. “Playing for Maties and being Captain is a total privilege. Maybe I’ll get the green and gold, maybe not. I will bloom wherever God plants me and give it my all.”
Carel, who has been part of a winning Currie Cup Western Province team, agrees that the “DC is one of the best stadiums to play in” for the fans, the history and for being a part of the legendary #MaroonMachine.
“It has been such a massive honour to play and to serve as Vice-Captain and then step up as Captain for the VC. Quite a shock really because this is my first year at Maties,” says the Post Grad Transport Logistics student-athlete.
“I did my undergrad degree at the University of the Western Cape where I started playing rugby after a break during high school when I focused on athletics. It was hard work getting back into rugby but I was able to play in the Varsity Shield for UWC.
“It is thanks to a bursary from Maties that I’ve been able to continue my studies and play rugby here. I am so grateful for this opportunity – and as an alumnus I will definitely give back in the future.”
For Carel, there are two things that drive him: one is a desire to be better than the day before; and the other is to honour those who support him through success in all that he is tasked to do.
“Although I felt the pressure, taking over from Ezekiel was made easier with the incredible support from the team and coaches. Maties Rugby Club is a huge team; and the game has taught me that in life you need to have people alongside you; you need a team where there is a transfer of skills and energy.”
Carel, who embraces the ethos of “one game at a time and each game is special”, is now focused on League and USSA – and lends his full support to Women’s Rugby and the Maties Women’s team who were crowned VC Cup winners for the second time.
“They deserve so much more support. They play real rugby at 100 percent and, I tell you, I would certainly feel it if I were tackled by one of them.”
And Liza, who says her team is still drawing motivation from their VC win, could not agree more. “We play real rugby – same hard hits, tackles, rules,” she says. “The men’s game just looks ‘bigger’ because men are bigger. But we are giving 100 percent physically and mentally too with the same intensity of training and risk of injury. It’s not touch rugby.”
However, she will concede one difference in which she quotes head of Rugby, Drikus Hancke: Men play good to feel good; Women feel good to play good. “Managing and leading a team of women governed by natural cycles may involve a specialised approach but that has nothing to do with toughness, dedication or ‘rugby going soft’,” she says.
For her, being Captain adds a degree of responsibility to drive the momentum of Women’s Rugby into the mainstream mindset where players and the game are acknowledged for being champion athletes, and into a place where sponsors are willing to invest.
“I am so thankful to our dedicated fans who show us support but we need more recognition to attract the funding we need to grow our team.
“It seems odd to say ‘grow’ because Women’s Rugby at Maties is not new. The club started 30 years ago. It is only now through Varsity Cup though that people are taking notice. We aren’t a new ‘threat’ – we’ve been here for decades!” she says.
The third year Computer Science student-athlete grew up in Upington where she focused on hockey. After school, she headed south to Stellenbosch, following a line of family alumni to further her education. Initially she signed up for Maties Hockey, until she discovered her all-consuming passion for Women’s Rugby.
“Rugby is supremely physical and it takes a conscious choice to be a part of this community – a community of men and women which has the greatest diversity of any sport in terms of race, gender, sexuality and culture.
“Everything we put into it is underscored by the same value-set; and I am so honoured to be a part of it all. Every time I’m standing there singing the national anthem, I tear up a bit. I’m blessed to be able to do that in maroon,” she says.
And, for the record: that “tearing up” with pride is not just a “girl thing”!
