Setback for new Shark Tshituka
THE bad news for Sharks fans is that Vincent Tshituka will miss the first three rounds of the United Rugby Championship (URC) because of a shoulder injury but the good news for rugby in general is that the flanker believes he is some way from reaching his full potential.
This is some revelation when you consider the 23 year old’s sensational form in a losing Lions cause earlier this year. He was all over the show all at once in winning four man-of-the-match awards and a URC player of the month award.
His form had SA Rugby enquiring about his eligibility for South Africa – he grew up in Johannesburg but was born in the DR Congo – and Tshituka scrambled off to Home Affairs to apply for citizenship and he reports that this matter is likely to be happily resolved soon.
At the launch of the new URC season at Vodaworld this week, Tshituka was back in Johannesburg and looking a little different in Sharks gear.
“The biggest reason for me moving to Durban was the opportunity for something new,” he said, smiling. “I have spent my whole life in Johannesburg and my entire career at the Lions and I feel I need a new challenge to take me to the next level.”
He is back in Durban recovering from shoulder surgery.
“I am recovering well and am getting my strength back and I can’t wait to get back on the field,” he said. “It has been a great year and I felt my form accumulated over a series of games. It didn’t just happen, it was progressive and what is exciting is that I feel that I am not yet at the top – I have more to offer, a lot more to give.”
The Sharks begin their campaign against Zebre, then play the Dragons in Newport before finishing against tournament favourites Leinster in Dublin.
The loose forwards currently on duty at the Sharks are not too shabby – Dylan Richardson, James Venter and Sikhumbuzo Notshe started against the Stormers on Friday while there are also Bok skipper Siya Kolisi, Henco Venter, Thembelani Bholi and Phepsi Buthelezi – and Tshituka knows he has a fight on his hands.
“I am well aware of the class of the loose forwards at the Sharks,” he admitted. “This is what is going to help me take my game to the next level because I want to be in the environment where I feel I have to constantly produce my best week in, week out. I have always tried to do that but this will give me extra motivation.”