Teacher heads for Tokyo
HOUGHTON – Rodda works as a mathematics teacher and head of swimming at St John's College.
Mathematics teacher and head of swimming at St John’s College Nick Rodda has been selected as part of the men’s water polo team representing South Africa at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
Rodda began playing water polo in Grade 5 when his older brother took up the game, giving him an early start.
“Once we knew there was a game where you could swim and play with a ball, there was no turning back,” said Rodda.
He was schooled at Jeppe High School for Boys and was selected for the provincial water polo side in his Grade 8 year. In matric, he made the provincial U19A side and was chosen for the SA U18 team to at the tri-nations in New Zealand. His first cap for the SA men’s side was in 2013.
“I was 20 years old and the youngest player in the team at that time. I have been a regular in the national men’s side since then and have loved every second of it.”
He was selected for the Olympic squad earlier this year, which has since met on a monthly basis for a weekend of training either in Cape Town, Johannesburg or Durban in order to prepare for Tokyo.
Rodda said he has done as much as he can to prepare, despite the fact that the majority of the squad are not from Joburg and therefore cannot train together regularly.
He said that the team has high expectations for Tokyo, despite it being the first time in over 60 years that the men’s team has competed at the Olympics.
“We want to go there and be competitive against these professional teams, be able to score goals against them, draw exclusions and be a team that they are scared of. A team they have to work hard to beat.”
Rodda explained that water polo is an amateur sport in South Africa, while most other nations competing in Tokyo are professionals with many more opportunities afforded to them.
“These are challenges we face as a team, however, it has never stopped us from competing and never will.
“We all love the game and if given the opportunity to play against the best in the world, we will do what we can to get there.”
Rodda thanked the St John’s community for their support.
“I hope to bring back my experience and knowledge of the game and use it in my coaching.”
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