Marlboro Gardens Secondary School’s U15 rugby team may not have claimed the coveted gold or silver medals in the Vuka rugby programme, but their competitive spirit earned them a well-deserved bronze medal.

Coach Menzi Mbatha praised his players, who are still in the developmental phase, for their exceptional performance.

“They were playing against the toughest schools in the programme, and they still managed to finish third. These boys worked very hard for this position. There is a big difference between where they were last year and where they are now. It took us time, dedication, and effort.”

This marks the team’s second consecutive bronze medal; however, Mbatha noted that this year’s competition was significantly tougher. He said although they faced stronger opponents, the team stayed competitive throughout the season, and that showed their growth. In their last fixture, Mbatha said the team was scheduled to take on Realogile High School, but secured a walkover victory because Realogile was unable to participate.

The budding rugby stars began competing in the Vuka U15 programme in 2023, when they were just 13 years old. “When they started playing, my focus was not on getting any results or wins; I was just focused on the development. Surprisingly, they managed to get bronze last year.”

Mbatha highlighted the team’s potential, noting their ability to bring fierce competition to the field while still developing. “The fact that they were able to finish the Vuka programme with a bronze, encourages them to search for more. That is what the team and I spoke about, that we should always be in pursuit of something better.”

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