Mashigo and Makhubele are among the five assistant coaches on the provincial team. Mashigo told the Herald the appointment is a great opportunity to grow and enhance his coaching expertise by learning from the head coach, Blikkies Groenewald, and the other coaches. “Coaching is an honour to me, and being awarded this opportunity means a lot. It certainly adds to my growth as a coach to compete at a higher level.

“There is a huge task ahead and although the aim is always to win, it is also important to better the players. I’m really excited and looking forward to the challenge,” Mashigo said. He started playing rugby at the University of Johannesburg. When he returned after university, he joined the Letaba Rugby Club together with Makhubele.

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Mashigo started coaching in 2013 as a volunteer at the Hudson Ntsanwisi School. In 2015 the two players founded the Nkowankowa Rugby Club, but it has not been an easy journey. They had to adhere to regulations and processes to have the club affiliated and the club was only affiliated in 2022 and gained its independence.

Mashigo has helped players such as Thobile Msizazwe and Delsy Mkansi who were chosen for the Springboks women’s team and Marvellous Mashimbyi, who plays for the Pumas in the Currie Cup. Makhubele, who is also the head coach of the University of Limpopo’s men’s and women’s teams, told the Herald that he is grateful for the opportunity and the chance to showcase his coaching abilities. He also coached Zandile Masuku, who is a member of the Springboks women’s team.