It’s back to roots for Bulls skipper
Ex-Border schools star set for EL
IT WILL be a homecoming of sorts when former Border schools rugby star Abongile Nonkontwana returns to East London as captain of the Vodacom Blue Bulls for their SuperSport Rugby Challenge semifinal against DHL Western Province at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Nonkontwana represented the Border U13 Craven and U16 Grant Khomo Week teams while attending Selborne College, before heading to St Albans in Pretoria where he finished his schooling, playing for the Blue Bulls Craven Week side and then progressing through their junior ranks.
“My parents had their first house in Mdantsane before we moved into East London and my dad, who passed away when I was younger, was a former rugby player and he played club rugby games at the Sisa Dukashe, so it is a nice event coming up for me and I am very excited and passionate to play there,” said Nonkontwana.
“I am expecting some of my family members at the match, it will be an emotional game in front of my family because they don’t get many chances to see me play since I play in Pretoria.
“But with it being a semifinal and Bulls versus Province is enough motivation and I am ready for it.”
Nonkontwana has been captaining the Bulls through their SuperSport Rugby Challenge campaign, except for a few games when he made his Bulls Super rugby debut, and he will be eager to lead the team to the title after a solid showing in the competition so far.
“The SuperSport Challenge is a great building block for players to get game time for Super Rugby, so we have had a few disruptions with players coming in and out of the side as well as injuries, so it has been challenging in terms of cohesion throughout the whole campaign in the team,” explained Nonkontwana.
“But it has been a great experience leading the side, I was captain of the U21 team last year, so the relationship with the management has been great as well as the players who have been very supportive.
“I think we have done well, we have had some good wins and some close games as well, so we have learnt a lot and I think it has prepared us very well for the semifinals.”
Western Province have been the form team in the competition so far this year and are the only unbeaten team still in it, so they will be a massive challenge for the Bulls, however anything can happen on the day.
“Every time the Bulls take on Province every player is up for it, it is one of those games where what has happened before doesn’t count and it all comes down to whoever pitches up on the day and takes their chance,” claimed Nonkontwana.
Also on the day will see the semifinal clash between the Xerox Golden Lions and the Tafel Lager Griquas, while a cracking club encounter between the newly-crowned Border Super League champs MPM Old Selbornians and 2016 champs Swallows should get the day off to the perfect start.
Free tickets for the weekend’s action can be picked up at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium on the day from early in the morning.
There will also be entertainment for the event, provided by the Babes Wodumo.