Future chefs in training with Sharks
TWO trainee chefs have been given the chance to serve up delicacies to the Cell C Sharks staff and players for the next three months.
Mondli Nsele, 21, and Qiniso Khuzwayo, 28, were put through their paces in the Sharks kitchen at the Growthpoint Kings Park Stadium. Both are from the Phinda Game Reserve “Star in Training” upskilling programme.
Khuzwayo, a chef who lives near Maska Nature Reserve in Hluhluwe, and Nsele, a waiter, of Mnqobokaz, will take the skills that they are gaining and share their knowledge with others.
Eduard Coetzee, Cell C Sharks chief operations offi- cer, said the top two students were selected from Phinda’s “Star in Training” upskilling programme. They would spend time with various departments in the sports management and hospitality industry.
“Based on our ongoing association with &Beyond and, more specifically, Phinda Game Reserve, the Sharks have provided a fantastic learnership opportunity for the students,” Coetzee said.
They would gain experience in the hospitality/sporting sector. They would shadow staff in the respective departments to learn and upskill themselves to prepare for future work opportunities.
The pair arrived last Tuesday, and are being accommodated in a suite at the stadium.
Khuzwayo was ecstatic to be in the stadium for the first time.
He also helped in the BokSmart for kids rugby programme, which teaches children how to play rugby.
He will be taking selfies and sending them back home to his family. He helped to make pasta, chicken and mixed vegetables on his first day.
Wow!
Nsele said he was emotionally taken aback when he entered the stadium and had to let out a “wow!”
As a waiter, he is gaining more experience in the kitchen and interacting with staff and management.
“We learnt how to play rugby in school through various development programmes like BokSmart rugby safety programme. I also taught the children in my area how to play rugby. I cannot explain how I feel to be given this opportunity,” Nsele said.
Khuzwayo said: “My dream as a kid was to be a waiter, and here I am living that dream. For now, we are struck by the hospitality shown to us and I am certain it will be a learning curve and experience I won’t forget.”
Coetzee said for the Sharks to be relevant in people’s lives, they needed to have a focal impact. “We looked at how we could change lives and empower communities through sport. They will be placed at their lodges in Phinda Game Reserve after gaining valuable work experience,” he said.