Four young players from Alex Wolves Rugby Club will take to Germiston Stadium on October 24 and 25 to compete in the annual OR Tambo Socini Social Cohesion Games.

Ntombenhle Mpanza, Mangaliso Xiba, Thandokuhle Chophiso and Siyabonga Kubeka will join the Johannesburg U14 team at the youth multi-sports tournament hosted by the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation.

Read more: Alexandra Wolves rise as underdogs in Johannesburg’s youth rugby scene

Squads from across various municipalities in Gauteng will battle for medals and the trophy.

Development coach Sarah Skhosana said the upcoming tournament will teach her young players valuable lessons in teamwork and discipline while giving them the chance to showcase their talent against unfamiliar opposition.

“It is helping us a lot. Players get excited when they go out to play against teams other than Johannesburg-based teams,” she said.

That excitement, she added, stirs their hunger to work hard and show their skill on the field. Having had players take part in the event before, Skhosana has seen how it shapes both their game and their character.

Skhosana hopes the tournament will instil discipline, communication and morals, attributes she noted will serve them well in their development journey.

She said the same qualities are already paving the way for other Alex Wolves players, including the U15 squad members who compete in the Hollywoodbets Foundation U15 Iqhawe Week and other national competitions.

Also read: Alexandra Cricket Club edge Soweto Pioneers in pre-season T20 showdown at East Bank Oval

More than anything, the tournament will test the players’ ability to gel as a team. They will be folded into the Johannesburg squad alongside teammates they are not used to playing with, which Skhosana said will force them to grasp the basics of teamwork and get to know one another.

“Teamwork is very important in the sport, and it is important for players to know each other and be able to play well together,” she said.

Mangaliso, who only started playing rugby last year, sees the tournament as a chance to learn and gain experience.

“I want to get far and even gain enough experience to one day play for the Springboks,” he said, adding that it is an opportunity to build on the foundation of discipline and teamwork already laid by the Alex Wolves coaches.

Ntombenhle, who will play in the U14 girls’ squad, said she is looking forward to the trip to Germiston. “I am happy because I have never been there before. So, I cannot wait to see what happens,” she said.

Like Mangaliso, she hopes the opportunity will lay the foundation for greater things in the future.

Follow us on our WhatsApp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates!