Alex Wolves Rugby U14 team stands tall against Johannesburg’s elite
Rising rugby players in Alexandra are proving that determination and hard work can close the gap between them and Johannesburg’s most prestigious schools.
When the Alex Wolves Rugby U14 squad walked onto the field at the King Edward VII School (KES) Easter Festival, few expected them to trouble the young rugby players from KES, one of Johannesburg’s respected rugby institutions.
What unfolded, however, was a contest that showed Alexandra’s youth can stand toe to toe with the city’s elite youth rugby clubs.
The Wolves lost narrowly, 12–14, but for coach Tebogo Mofokeng, the scoreline told a bigger and a more inspiring story. “KES is well known and it is a tough team, but we gave them a tough time. While other township teams lost by heavy scores, we lost by just two points.”
Read more: Alexandra Wolves rise as underdogs in Johannesburg’s youth rugby scene
That margin, he believes, speaks volumes because it shows that his players are not defined by the socioeconomic barriers of Alexandra, but by their hunger to rise. “Our standard has increased a lot. It shows that we are training people who are willing to listen.”
Although the Wolves’ knew they were going to compete against a strong opponent, their preparation for the festival was no different from any other week, according to Mofokeng. He said, as always, his players trained with the determination of a club that wants to get somewhere. He made it clear that the boys did not need special treatment to face elite opponents. They only needed the discipline they practice every day.
Also read: KES gears up for thrilling day 2 as rugby takes centre stage
He emphasised that what makes the Wolves remarkable is not individual brilliance, but collective strength. “All of them are playing. I can’t even point out individual players because all of them play very well. I don’t have a single player that I can say did their best because all did.”
As the Alex Wolves squad, made up of players from different schools across Alexandra, returns to training, their focus shifts to one of the biggest challenges of the year, which is the upcoming schools league. These teammates will line up against one another, representing their respective schools.
While there is no telling which of the schools will emerge victorious, Mofokeng is certain that all the players will have a lot more to learn competing against each other, but, more importantly, they will grow even stronger as Alex Wolves, and shape themselves into the next generation of South Africa’s rugby stars.
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