Dedicated Tuks star looking forward to Dubai adventure
One of the stars of Tuks women sevens rugby team on its way to the Dubai tournament talked to Rekord about her love for the game.
She spends at least ten hours a week driving just to be at the practice sessions.
But every minute of this effort is worthwhile for Sumari Brand, one of the most dedicated members of the women’s sevens team of the University of Pretoria.
Brand lives in Potchefstroom and, therefore, travels two and a half hours each way to get to practice.
She comes to practice a minimum of twice a week, which totals a minimum of 10 hours driving per week just to get to practice.
Asked why she is willing to drive so far every week, she is quick to say it is for the love of rugby. But what exactly is it about rugby that she love so much?
“When I am training or playing a game, in that moment I feel free with complete happiness. It’s a tough world out there, but for that few moments of rugby I feel happy. I love rugby because it helps me to learn how to stay motivated, driven, have self-discipline, work hard, stay dedicated and to never give up. That is how I use rugby in my daily life as well. The fitness is draining and hell but everything all together makes up a love hate relationship. You hate the fitness and running so much that you absolutely fall in love with it.
“I want to be an example through the way I live and play rugby. Every time I play or train, I have to beat my old self. I play all my emotional weaknesses away. It’s my therapy, my go-to place, my peace and my happy place.”
What would going to the Dubai tournament mean for her as an individual? And what does she think it means to the team?
“Dubai for me will be the time that everything comes together. All of the hard work, all of the sacrifice and all of the self-discipline. It will be a chance to prove to myself that I am made for greatness and I can share that moment with the most amazing people, my team mates. Going to Dubai will help me to show to so many people to never give up chasing their dreams and they will see how I live by example and that dreams can come true.
“For some of us, we carry our heart in our hands and going to Dubai will enable us as a team to live out and play out our hearts. Some of us will never be able to see these amazing places of the world in our lives, but this opportunity will give us a glimpse of a chance to see the beauty in the world and the best part of it will be playing rugby in this glimpse of an opportunity, that some of us never thought could come true. It will unite us for that moment as a team and inspire others looking up at us and will be forever one of the greatest memories to cherish forever,” Brand concluded.
For enquiries about the team please contact the TUKS Woman’s rugby Marketing Manager Livia Branga-Peicu at brangapeicu.livia@gmail.com or on 072-192-7100.
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