Two girls from Alexandra, Tsakane Chauke and Alice Ncube, recently flew to Cape Town for a national rugby development camp. This marked and incredible milestone in their young sporting careers, and it offered them a glimpse of what is possible when hard work and talent meet opportunity.

Their journey began at Queens High School in Johannesburg, where U16 teams from across South Africa gathered for a tournament attended by Springbok selectors. “We were blessed to have two players from Alexandra and the Golden Lions club selected to go to Cape Town,” said coach Jack Moloi.

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They were first selected to join the Golden Lions squad to represent Gauteng in the inter-provincial tournament. This was after they demonstrated their talent during the Golden Lion schools league. From there, Chauke and Ncube’s performance earned them a spot at a week-long camp at Paarl Girls’ High School in Cape Town.

“They trained daily, tested their skills, and played in trial matches where two teams, U16 green and gold, competed against each other,” Moloi explained.

As a young girl who had gotten used to life within the confines of Alexandra, Chauke could not believe it when she heard that she was going to Cape Town. “Even my family could not believe it. It only hit me when the coach told us that we had tickets to go to Cape Town, and that is when I started to believe it. I was excited,” she said.

What was even more thrilling was her first experience on a plane. “I felt like the world was ending,” she said, recalling the moment with a bright smile. “Even tears of joy came out.”

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Despite her short time in the sport, Chauke’s talent shone through. She was named captain of the U16 gold team.

Her teammate, Ncube, had more experience, having played for the Golden Lions squad the previous year. But still, the Cape Town opportunity came as a surprise. “I did not even know there was an U16 camp,” she said. “It felt like doors were finally opening and we were getting closer to success.”

Ncube also flew for the first time and described the camp as intense but rewarding. “We trained from 6am to 5pm, and during breaks, we had classes. It was tough, but it showed me what it takes to grow in this sport.”

Both girls now dream bigger. “I want to work harder and advance in my rugby career,” said Ncube. Chauke added, “My hope is to one day play alongside Ayanda Malinga.”

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