Both teachers from Hoër Tegniese Skool Witbank (HTS) have had their fair share of coaching, as well as playing the sport and this shows in the coaching they pass on to the athletes.
This will be Vicky’s 10th year in which he is coaching the Pumas for the invitational week and will be Clinton’s first time coaching at this level. Both Vicky and Clinton have attained their International Rugby Board Developing Skills (IRB) level 2, allowing them to coach at a professional level.
As teachers, Vicky has been at HTS for just over 11 years now while Clinton has been there almost eight years. Both started coaching rugby the moment they started at HTS. Vicky has previously been an assistant coach for the South African Correctional Services team in 2002 and 2003.
“It takes planning, commitment, and dedication when developing players,” said Clinton.
Both agreed that being involved with these children who reach higher achievements is the reward in itself, coaching and nurturing them as they develop on a professional level.
One such highlight was when the HTS first rugby team won the Puk League back in 2013, they were crowned champions.
Come the end of June, the athletes will head to Potchefstroom to compete in the NWU invitational week. If they perform well the chances of them receiving bursaries from the university is quite high, in fact the player of the week is awarded a R30 000 bursary and with a number of scouts searching for the cream of the crop, these children will have the chance to play at an even higher level.
“We wish the boys from HTS Marius Viviers, Thomas Cane, Clinton Kriel, Hanru Nortje, Jonathan Kayembe, Ryno Pieterse, and Ruan Vorster all the best for the invitational week, we also want to congratulate the other schools on having their players selected to play in the invitational week,” said Clinton and Vicky.
