An unsung Lions hero

SINGWANE: A VITAL MEMBER OF THE JOBURG TEAM’S MANAGEMENT STAFF

Having rubbed shoulders with a long list of Lions rugby captains including Wikus van Heerden, Andre Pretorius, Josh Strauss and Warren Whiteley, assistant Lions team manager Johane Singwane (rght) holds legendary status in the corridors at Ellis Park.

Singwane was born and raised in Mpumalanga. “I came to Johannesburg in 2000 when Johan Janse van Rensburg, who did the lawns all those years at Ellis Park, employed me,” Singwane said this week.

He started working at the Lions in 2003 after former team manager William Roos spotted him working on the lawns at Marks Park where the squad trained.

“I worked at Marks Park from 2001 and in that way I started to get to know the rugby guys and was appointed as the baggage master and later assistant team manager from 2010,” Singwane said.

A fan of multiple sports, Singwane is a useful golfer and holds a 10-handicap.

A father of five, his family still lives in Nelspruit and he is able to visit home only twice a month.

Rugby, however, and his role at the Lions, has taken him around the world.

“I like touring New Zealand. It is a good place and the people are well mannered,” he said.

Aside from Roos, former Lions and Saru CEO Johan Prinsloo and Lions team manager Mustapha Boomgaard played crucial roles in Singwane’s career.

And while they had recovered in recent years, with Singwane rating their 2015 season as their best when they lifted the Currie Cup title, he was grateful to have had a chance to show his commitment to the union through good times and bad.

“The time with the Cats was tough,” he said, recalling an era for the union which ended in 2006.

“We had so many brilliant players but they just never clicked and could never really manage to pull off significant wins.”

He and the players had gained far more than they had lost, however, and Singwane said he had collected some great memories.

Former players who made a lasting impression on him included, among others, Kleinjan Tromp, Jannes Labuschagne and Louis Koen.

“To this day we still communicate on social media,” Singwane said.

“One of the coaches I will always remember is (former Lions and Bulls mentor) Frans Ludeke.

“He is just such a great person,” Singwane mentioned.