Mnisi fit to take up spot in Kings

After initial concerns regarding his fitness, it is expected that powerful former Lions centre Howard Mnisi will be pulling on an Isuzu Southern Kings jersey in the Guinness Pro14 later this year.

When he first arrived at the Kings for medical tests, there were concerns that the dashing centre was still being hampered by knee problems.

However, insiders said on Thursday that Mnisi had passed his medicals and will be one of the new recruits in the side.

In 2016, Mnisi was included in a South Africa ‘A’ squad that played a two-match series against the England Saxons.

He was named in the starting line-up for their first match in Bloemfontein, but ended on the losing side as the visitors ran out 32–24 winners.

Later he was named on the bench for the second match of the series, coming on as a second-half replacement in a 26–29 defeat to the Saxons in George.

Mnisi represented the Pumas at the 2006 and 2007 U18 Craven Week tournaments, which earned him a place in the Sharks academy. He played for their U19 team in 2008 and their U21 team in 2010.

In 2011, he was included in the Sharks Vodacom Cup squad and made his debut against the Namibian Welwitschias.

However, he failed to break into the Currie Cup team and joined Varsity Cup side NMMU Madibaz. Mnisi was included in the South Africa Students team in 2012 and 2013, and he was also voted as the “Back That Rocks” for the 2013 Varsity Cup tournament.

While a deal to bring flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis to PE remains up in the air, the Kings have confirmed the re-signing of wing Yaw Penxe, loose-forward CJ Velleman, hooker Tango Balekile and centre Sibusiso Sithole.

Siyabonga Masuku (flyhalf, Lions), Ig Prinsloo (prop, Bulls), and Andell Loubser (fullback) are also believed to have signed for the Kings.

Insiders said Mnisi had passed his medical tests