A rising star

At the end of September she received a call from the newly
appointed Springbok women’s sevens coach Renfred Daze to confirm that she had
been selected for the squad. “I have never been to Dubai before, but I really
look forward to it. Rugby was something that I never imagined myself playing. I
was an active kid since I was born. I used to play soccer with my younger
brother, Lebo and his friends during my primary school years. I also played
netball. I was the youngest player in the A team to play with the seniors and I
was only in grade 5.”
In 2011 she was called up for the women’s sevens for
the first time to attend a camp with the team when they were preparing to play
against Botswana. “Rugby is a very disciplined sport that requires you to think
and apply your skills and flexibility. It challenges you to climb out of your
shell and be your own person.”
Dazel has set high standards for his squad
following his appointment three weeks ago, with qualifying for the 2016 Olympic
Games being one of his main objectives. Sibiloane is sure of herself that they
might be able to win the tournament. “At this point I don’t think any of the
teams would be a problem for us. We have players who have international rugby
experience of which the other teams in our pool do not.” Sevens stars Zenay
Jordaan, Veroeshka Grain, Mathrin Simmers and Phumeza Gadu, who participated in
the Sevens Rugby World Cup in Moscow in June, will form the core of the
group.
The team has been based in Port Elizabeth for the past two months to
prepare adequately and familiarise themselves with the structures. “We have gym
practice in the mornings and two field sessions where one will be conditioning
and the other game structure and skills. We have been training really hard to be
fit and in shape for the tournament.”
Sibiloane’s rugby career started in
Sakhile near Standerton where she used to train for soccer at the local field.
She attended Isifisosethu Primary School and Thutothebe Secondary.
She plans
to go to university next year as 2013 was a gap year to find her feet. “I was
supposed to go to college this year but there was a little voice inside telling
me that I should take a gap year. Because there were going to be lots of SA u/20
camps and I thought that I wouldn’t have time to study, I thought I might end up
having to drop out and that was going to be a waste of my parents’ money. I am
glad that I never went because I was going to miss out on this opportunity. I
promised my parents that I would study next year – rugby alone isn’t enough for
me.”
She knows her talent is her gift from God, and using it wisely is her
gift back to Him. “I am using my talent wisely and He blessed me with this
opportunity. I am the youngest player in the team and that’s an amazing
feeling.”
The team comprises Jordaan, Grain, Simmers, Gadu, Sibiloane,
Marithy Pienaar, Rachelle Geldenhuys, Daphne Scheepers, Nicolene Barendse, Nomsa
Mokwai and Siviwe Basweni .The last seven femaless all earned their first
call-ups to the sevens team.
The squad will face Belgium, the West Coast
Vikings, Tuks Ladies and the Moscow Region teams in the round-robin stages on
November 29. Tthe Cup and Plate semi-finals and finals are set to take place on
November 30.