Long before he captained the Sharks Wildebeest side, Khumbu Khoza was simply a young boy who loved the excitement rugby brought every time he stepped onto the field.
He still remembers how the game drew him in during his primary school years.
“The thrill of it made me fall in love with rugby,” he said. “I enjoyed the challenge of having to outplay the person in front of you.”
That competitive spirit would become one of the driving forces behind a rugby journey built on discipline, sacrifice and resilience.
Today, Khoza remains an active player for the Vryheid Rugby Club, where he continues to lead by example both on and off the field.

A powerful loose forward

Over the years, Khoza established himself as a powerful loose forward known for his physicality and work ethic. Although he started out playing flank, his strength and ability to break through defenders later saw him move into the number eight position.
Being a loose forward, he explained, demands much more than brute strength.
“You need to be everywhere on the field,” he said. “You have to tackle, carry the ball, steal possession and still keep going for 80 minutes. It really tests you physically and mentally.”

Pride in leading the Sharks Wildebeest

Among the many moments in his rugby career, being named captain of the Sharks Wildebeest side remains one of his proudest achievements. For Khoza, however, leadership was never about personal recognition alone.
“It was an honour,” he said. “Representing my town and showing people where I come from has always meant a lot to me.”
Khoza believes much of his growth as a player came through the guidance of coach Rich Verster, who saw potential in him long before he fully recognised it himself.
“He believed in me more than I believed in myself,” Khoza admitted. “He pushed me to see what I was capable of.”
According to Khoza, Verster even built parts of the team’s game plan around his strengths, helping him develop confidence and better understand his role within the squad.

The commitment behind the game

Behind the scenes, rugby has required constant commitment. His weekly routine often starts before sunrise, with gym sessions at 05:00 throughout the week. Rugby training fills his Tuesday and Thursday evenings, while Saturdays are reserved for match days.
“There’s not much downtime,” he laughed. “Sunday is really the only chance to recover.”
Although rugby brought many opportunities, it also came with difficult decisions. One choice in particular still lingers in his mind, whether he should have pursued the professional route more seriously.
“I had the chance to go pro,” he reflected. “I sometimes think about it and wonder what could have happened if I fully committed myself.”
Khoza speaks with gratitude for everything rugby has taught him over the years.
When it comes to handling pressure before matches, he prefers to keep things light-hearted rather than allowing nerves to take over.
“I listen to music, joke around and try to stay relaxed,” he said. “The moment I overthink things, my game suffers.”

Looking beyond the playing field

As his playing career nears its closing stages, Khoza has already started thinking about the future. While he believes this could be his final season on the field, his involvement in rugby is unlikely to end anytime soon.
His focus now is shifting towards mentoring younger players and helping grow the club for years to come.
“I want to help develop young talent and guide players to become better both on and off the field,” he said.

Advice for the next generation

For aspiring rugby players, his advice is simple: success starts long before the whistle blows.
“You have to put in extra work when nobody is watching,” he explained. “But most importantly, you have to love the game. If you truly enjoy it, you’ll always want to improve.”
Through years of dedication, leadership and commitment to his community, Khoza has become more than just a rugby player to many local supporters. He represents perseverance, pride and the kind of passion that continues long after the final match is played.

The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.