Border plan for fiery battlefield

PLANS to keep the Border women’s rugby team on top are in place as the U18 side prepares to leave for the South African Rugby Youth week junior tournament in Free State this coming weekend.

Border women’s junior teams are spending this week in an intense training camp in preparation for the rugby youth week.

Out of the 23 players who made last year’s team only eight have returned to join this junior side.

The eight players who returned to the junior side are: Sibulele Pawulosi, Wathifa Dudumashe, Olwethu Nayiphi, Zezethu Nzame, Nqatyiswa Lufutha, Alude Ndlambulo, Sakhe Mxolisi and Yandisa Nobanda.

Border women’s head coach Zoliswa Naka said having an almost all new team was a challenge.

“It’s a minor challenge having a team of almost new players but I have confidence in them,” she said.

Being named champions in the South African women inter-provincial tournament for four consecutive seasons, Naka said this year they will raise the standard.

“Over the past few years we were able to set the standard and this year we want to raise it,” she said.

“We have to change the game structure that we were using before to make sure that the new players can play a game that is tailored to their strong points,” she said.

Naka added that the one thing that other teams know is that Border players are skilled and have the ability to achieve anything that they place their focus on.

“We have players who have never played rugby before and this training camp assists them to know what to expect from next week,” she said.

The players set to bring Border A and B teams to glory are:

Chumisa Qhawe, Chuma Qhawe, Siphokuhle Arm, Anelisa Masana, Sinesipho Gonubie, Sivuyiseko Makhomanzi, Lutho Ndeya, Asiphe Khebenzana, Philasande Jwambi, Milani Mandla, Asangezwa Galadile, Asandile Nowawa, Boniwe Doli, Boniswa Doli, Andisiwe Magazi, Hlumela Nalo, Mihlali Mgweba, Aphele Ntsuntsu and Olwethu Mbongoza.

The Border women’s A team is set to go head-to-head with Blue Bulls while their B side will have to face Mpumalanga Pumas on Saturday.