AFTER a 13-year gap since Amanzimtoti Rugby Club’s (ARC) last KZN First Division league championship, the hometown heroes’ season reached a defining moment on August 8 in Vryheid, where the first team secured a 35-14 lead against Vryheid Rugby Club, lifting the Dewar Shield.

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Club president Dr Michael Mthethwa said being crowned KZN First Division champions was a powerful statement about what can be achieved when members of a proud community believe in a shared vision and commit fully to make it a reality.

He added that the win confirms the progress after the club set out to rebuild its senior programme.

“While every player has played an important role in the campaign, the performances and character of several individuals have stood out,” said Mthethwa.

Standout players

• Mike Uppink, a true club stalwart whose consistency, experience and commitment have made him an important figure within the squad. Uppink represents the kind of reliability every championship team needs.

• Michael Gibbley has brought power and determination as a big ball carrier, repeatedly putting his body on the line and giving the team valuable momentum when it mattered most.

• Wellem Musarara has earned admiration through his tireless work as a loose forward, bringing physicality and an unwavering willingness to do the difficult work that is so often the difference between competing and winning.

• Mason Stormo has brought youthful confidence and attacking energy to the backline, complemented by a big boot that has provided the team with another valuable weapon.

• Mncedisi Msomi has been equally impressive through his versatility, moving between loose forward and wing and contributing wherever the team has needed him, including on the scoreboard with multiple tries.

• Wanda Khanyile has provided another inspiring example of the club’s commitment to developing young talent. He made his first-team debut this season just a few weeks before his 19th birthday and showed immediately that he could handle the demands of senior rugby.

The winning formula

“The coaching partnership of Owen Masinga and Enza Magubane has played a major role in establishing the culture behind the success. Their leadership has brought greater structure, discipline, accountability and purpose to the senior programme. They have helped develop not only rugby players, but a group of men who believe in one another and understand what it means to represent Amanzimtoti.”

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The broader transformation has also been driven by the professionalism, commitment and leadership of the Amanzimtoti Rugby Club committee. Mthethwa commended his fellow committee members, Charlene Gouws, Garth Lamprecht and Eugene Gouws.

The second team added further success by winning the KZN First Division South Reserves League and the Brian Irvine Trophy against Volksrust.

 “This championship belongs to the entire Amanzimtoti Rugby Club. It belongs first to our players, our coaches whose leadership and standards have given the team the platform to succeed, our committee members, who have given their time, expertise and energy to building the structures that support the club, and it also belongs to all members of our community whose loyalty has preserved the spirit and traditions of this club across eight decades,” said Mthethwa.

Both the first and second teams now turn their attention to the Murray Cup knockout tournaments, which begin on August 22.

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