Crystal finds her mentor
Most great sportspeople have had a mentor who helped shape and define their careers, particularly in their early years of playing sport.
Logan Green
Brenthurst resident and Laerskool Die Arend learner Crystal Mylie (12), whom the Herald introduced readers to in August, has been playing in the u-12 team at Brakpan Junior Rugby Club this season and has proved that the sport is not a ‘boys only club’.
Crystal has been gaining solid advice from Brakpan Rugby Club’s first team biokineticist and current South African Strongest Woman, Xena Botha (35).
Xena is no stranger to the oval ball, having played for the Springbok women’s side as a loosehead prop forward from 2010 to 2013.
She has also represented the Western Province, Free State and Lions provincial sides.
The former Bloemfontein resident recently hung up her rugby boots to focus on becoming a Strongwoman competitor.
She told the Herald that the emergence of a young female rugby player like Crystal makes her excited for the future.
“Women’s rugby is still a growing sport, so we really need female players who are interested in the sport to play the game and show others that it can be done, especially at a club like Brakpan where there is opportunity and exposure for female players to grow.”
Xena moved to Gauteng from the Free State at the end of June and got involved with the ‘Panne’ first XV for a few games last season as their biokineticist.
She also did a bit of coaching work with the u-12 side, where she saw Crystal in action.
“She has got a lot of talent,” said Xena.
“It is a good age for her to start playing rugby, unlike me who only started playing at 24 years old.”
Four years later and Xena was selected for the Springbok women’s side at the age of 28.
She lists representing the country at the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England as one of the highlights of her time in the green and gold.
Provincially, she lists playing for the team she supports, Western Province, at their Newlands home ground in Cape Town as the highlight of her career.
Speaking on the state of women’s rugby in South Africa, Xena said: “We are not nearly on the same strength level as some of the other nations.
“In New Zealand, for example, women’s rugby has been going for over 40 years.
“We finished 10th out of 12 countries at the 2010 World Cup, 10th again four years later at the 2014 World Cup, and this year we didn’t even qualify for the World Cup, so there hasn’t been much improvement.
“It seems that the main focus is on the sevens game for women and not really the 15s.”
She believes that a good junior club feeding stream will greatly improve women’s rugby, with people like Crystal coming through the ranks, but that more girls need to play the sport from a young age to see any major growth.
She is confident though that clubs like Brakpan will invest and focus more time and effort on girls’ rugby.
Xena added that although women rugby players get judged easily, it’s how a person handles the negative comments that makes them a better player and person.
Meanwhile, young Crystal is just happy to be playing the sport she loves.
“My season was fun, but I missed a few games at the end because of a foot injury.
“I am looking forward to next season when I’ll move up to the u-13 age group.
“I want to improve my play, particularly my tackling,” Crystal added.
“I am going to get fitter as well.
“I will practice harder, run more and work on my biceps.”
Xena was set to go to the Official Strongman Games (World’s Strongest Woman) in the USA this month, but her sponsor unfortunately withdrew their support.
She will be doing a number of fundraising activities and will try to get a new sponsor in the new year in order to secure a spot in next year’s Games.
Despite that setback, she continues to serve as a positive mentor for Crystal.
The youngster said: “Xena has taught me to not give on myself and to push myself to the limits. Even if people bring you down you can stand up again.”
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Klein Arendjies is nou reg om die nes te verlaat
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