Kaide is an unstoppable force

WESTVILLE Senior Primary School’s star for this month is rugby star, Kaide Pardey.

Kaide said he knew from the time he could walk or catch a ball that rugby would be his top sport.

“I started my rugby career in Grade 3 at Westville Junior Primary, continuing to the senior primary and played U10A in Grade 4, U11A in Grade 5 and was privileged enough to be chosen for our first team in Grade 6 in 2013.

“Last year things really started to happen for me. I had an exciting season as the number one prop and was selected for the U13A Pinetown and Districts side, skipping my age group for U12A, to try out for the SA Craven Week U13A,” Kaide said.

Unfortunately, he fractured his leg in a local match through a bad tackle from the opposition just before the final trials for this and could not take part.

“The selectors did call my mom just before leaving for the Craven Week tournament to see if I would be available, but I was out of rugby for four months, missing the KZN sevens tournament too. I still ended up being the second highest try scorer (24 tries) for 2013 for my school despite being out of action half way through the rugby season,” he said.

This year, according to Kaide, has been his best year so far. He scored 106 tries for the school for the season playing as eighth man, which is his favourite position.

“This exceeded my expectations but made up for my disappointment last year with my injury. I came back into the season stronger and more determined than ever. I went on to being selected again this year for the Pinetown and Districts U13A team, went onto trials at Woodburn and was chosen for the SA Craven Week U13A, which was a really wonderful experience for me, especially since it was held in Durban this year after 19 years out of the province,” Kaide said.

“I was lucky enough to play in the Shark Tank at Kings Park on the same field my rugby heroes play on. At the capping ceremony at Kings Park, where John Smit and Jake White capped me for making the U13A SA Craven Week side there was a surprise announcement. They also named the KZN sevens squad and I made the 22-man squad.”

Kaide then went on to participate in the trials and made the final 15 KZN sevens squad.

“I have also been selected for the KZN Duikers Rugby Union Club team, playing in the number seven jersey for this side, for the inter-provincial festival in October. I will be capped again at Kings Park on 1 October for this achievement.”

Apart from his rugby achievements, Kaide was in the first team swimming squad at school and athletics.

“I enjoy all sports, but can only give 100 per cent to one sport to achieve my goal. I hope to continue to make KZN proud of my achievements for rugby and go onto playing one day, if I am selected, with some of the top players in the country.”