Former Alex Wolves rugby player Banele Ndziba makes waves
Alex’s Golden Lions development side player Banele Ndziba adores Aphiwe Dyanti such that he too would like to one day don the jersey of the Springboks.
A former Alex Wolves rugby player Banele Ndziba is making waves in the U16 development side of the Golden Lions and dreams of one day donning the Springbok jersey.
Banele is one of two rugby players from Alex to have been selected for the development side of the Golden Lions known as the Presidential Lions Rugby Team. The other is Marlboro Combined School learner Thabang Sikhonyane who currently plies his trade as an U16 Alex Wolves player.
They were selected for the U16 Presidential Lions Team and will play in the upcoming Winter Festival in the hope that they can cement their spot in the team.
Banele and Thabang are following in the footsteps of their Alex Wolves coach Bongumenzi Mbatha, who made a piece of history in 2018 by becoming the first Alex rugby player to represent the Golden Lions in the St John’s Rugby Festival.
“So far, no one has matched his standard and these two boys are following in his footsteps and are on course to make their little history as well.
“The greatness of the Alex Wolves coach [Mbatha] seems to be rubbing off on these youngsters and we wish them all the luck in the world,” said Banele’s coach Menziwezintozonke Zungu of Bring Up Rugby, an NPO that focuses on the development of rugby players in the townships of Gauteng.
Banele, who is a Grade 9 learner at KwaBhekilanga High School, said he looked forward to following in the steps of his Springbok idol, Aphiwe Dyanti.
“I love the way Aphiwe plays such that I am working so hard that I hope one day I will also don the colours of the Springboks to represent my country,” Banele said, urging his peers to ‘watch this space’.
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