Ntsila is a big Cheetahs asset
The burly flanker never dreamed he would become a professional player when he was growing up.
The Kings and the Sharks’ loss might very well turn out to be the Cheetahs big gain in the form of dynamic flanker Andisa Ntsila. The 27-year-old Ntsila was in top form for the Cheetahs in the just-completed Super Rugby Unlocked competition and capped a fine campaign with his first try in a Cheetahs jersey in the final match of that series against Griquas in Bloemfontein.
The numbers don’t lie and his defensive prowess and high work rate is probably best illustrated by the fact he made the second- most tackles in the Unlocked series, with 40.
The 1.81m, 98kg loose-forward fits the mould of a classic fetcher and is determined to build on his impressive form in the revamped Currie Cup, which started last night.
He won’t, however, be in action this weekend because the Bloemfontein-based side have a bye.
Growing up in the Eastern Cape, a hotbed of rugby talent, he never dreamed he would become a professional rugby player.
“I went to Queens College in Queenstown and it actually feels like I have played rugby all my life,” said the strapping No 6 flanker.
“While I played first team at school I never really aspired to become a professional rugby player at all.”
After leaving school he was enrolled at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) and was selected to play for the Madibaz side, where he made 11 appearances in the Varsity Cup.
“I don’t think I was even a target of the
talent scouts and even in my own mind, I genuinely didn’t have any aspirations to further my rugby career,” he added.
In his second year studying Game Ranch Management at university he admitted his ambitions had shifted significantly and it was then that he started harbouring thoughts of playing rugby fulltime and cashed in on every opportunity that came his way.
Ntsila played 28 games for the SWD Eagles in 2015/16 and also made 49 appearances for the Kings between 2016 and 2019, before being spotted by the Sharks.
He said the financial turmoil at the Kings had nothing to do with his move to Durban at the time.
“I was fortunate to have missed that ordeal and I actually moved from the Kings to the Sharks before that,” he
pointed out.
He, however, only featured in two Currie Cup games during 2019 which made his decision to move to Bloemfontein easier for him, even although the start of his Cheetahs career wasn’t ideal after turning in a positive Covid-19 test.
“At the Sharks I didn’t get much of an opportunity to play and I was lacking serious game time. I was offered an opportunity to come to the Cheetahs and I was just grateful to get a lifeline,” said Ntsila. “And I really just wanted to make the most of it.”
Even though the Cheetahs future in top-fl ight competition remains uncertain, Ntsila said he would also explore opportunities abroad, even if it meant in Russia or the USA.
“The uncertainty going on at the Cheetahs is real but I just always tell myself not to worry about it, but, yes, admittedly it does come to mind.”
Ntsila said he was probably not as “bothered” as he should be about what next year held.
“I just keep reminding myself that it’s not my job to determine who plays who. I can just focus on the present and get on with the job. I’m a laid-back type of guy and I am more focused on playing and what is in front of me right now.
“Before game time we always talk between ourselves as loose forwards and what we can bring to the game before a weekend.”
Ntsila said he preferred not to focus on himself, but rather his contribution to the team.
Like all top players he has aspirations to be a Springbok, but for now, he says it’s about keeping an eye on the present.