Lecturer Shamila Sulayman first fell in love with the “beautiful game of rugby” at the age of 11 and her passion and dedication has seen her make her mark in the male-dominated sport.

Last year the freelance radio presenter became the first woman to become president of the Collegians Rugby Club and she was also the first woman to be elected to Western Province (WP) Rugby’s Executive Committee.

Her efforts were recently recognised when she won the Volunteer of the Year Award in the Momentum gsport Awards held at The Wanderers Club, Johannesburg. The gsport Awards are the leading national women’s sport recognition platform.

“It was an absolute honour and a huge privilege to be recognised in this way by gsport when I won the 2022 Volunteer of the Year award. My decades of involvement in rugby and radio sports journalism have been nothing short of amazing! I love serving the communities that I do and I’m thankful and grateful to them for allowing me to do so,” said the Communication Lecturer in the Department of Human Resource Management.

“I often tell my children and students that the accolades and rewards from volunteer work far outweigh any monetary value – to which they normally roll their eyes! This kind of recognition also inspires others to continue to make a difference by serving our communities, whilst unearthing the raw sporting gems that we have within them. “

Reflecting on where her love of the game started, Sulayman said she was 11 when she started watching rugby on TV and later started watching club rugby at the Green Point Track.

“I grew up with three brothers and two cousins who played rugby, but who always kept me out of their rugby conversations, simply because I was a girl! I became even more intrigued and was motivated to learn and know all that I could about the game, fuelling my love and passion for it!”

She said Collegians is the only club she’s ever actively supported for the last 34 years.

Her brothers and cousins played for the club for many years during the late 80s and 90s, as well as her husband, Wajdi, who now assists with coaching the Collegians front rowers.

“Collegians RFC originated from District Six and played in the Western Province Rugby Football Union league at Green Point Track under the auspices of SACOS sport, whose slogan, No Normal Sport in an Abnormal Society, we all ascribed to during apartheid owing to its segregation laws, which kept many of our sporting heroes – of all sporting codes – from participating in provincial, national, and international arenas.“

In 2007 she was invited to serve on Western Province Rugby’s Transformation Committee; a position, which she held for 10 years. In 2017 Sulayman became the first woman in the history of the Western Province Rugby Union to be elected to its executive committee and remains a council member to date.

“My administrative years with Collegians RFC began in 2014, when I was appointed as the club’s secretary. I became the vice-president in 2018, and in another historic moment, became the club’s first female president in its 46-year-old history in November 2021.”

She also works as a freelance radio sports presenter on two shows on Radio 786.

“All of these positions are completely voluntary, driven by passion and serving communities.”

Her journey has however not been without challenges.

“As expected, being a woman in a male-dominated sport like rugby, was never going to be an easy feat, as there were many who were either bemused or simply amused that a woman would dare to enter their bastion, but there were (and are) those who welcomed my involvement, appreciating a fresh female perspective on all matters related to the game. And I was always - and remain driven by my love and passion for the game, whilst providing opportunities for our youth to play rugby and excel at it, leading them to higher honours, both in respect of the game and life, in general. “

She said few women occupy administrative and leadership positions in top-tier rugby.

“ Yet, there are many women who have been serving club rugby in our province for decades and at different levels, whether it is cooking meals for players, being the first aider, the physio, or the doctor, serving administratively as an exco member, covering media, photography, or even leading our clubs (to date, besides Collegians, St Georges RFC in Strand, is the only other rugby club, which is led by a female president). Women and girl’s rugby have also been growing phenomenally, with clubs and schools fielding teams, which feed into the provincial and national set-up. So, with all these girls and women involved in the game, our sporting federations – not only rugby must realise that the time has certainly come for women to take their rightful and earned place in sports leadership and boardrooms.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Anelisa Ndamase says she has no words to describe her emotions when she was informed that she had been selected for the Junior Springboks.

“When I saw a squad of 26 players, I couldn’t believe that my name was part of those 26 players selected for Springbok Juniors,” says a joyful Anelisa.

The 19-year-old Human Resources Management second-year student is originally from Ntlaza, Libode, a small village in the Eastern Cape, but she grew up in Khayelitsha, Cape Town where her rugby skills were polished from the age of 12.

However, her rugby journey didn’t start well. When she started playing it wasn’t easy because she was the only girl in her team training with her male schoolmates. “I consistently fell in love with rugby, I think it was because my uncles also played rugby in their days, so I think it was something that runs in the family and still does.”

She adds: “It wasn’t easy trying to fit in during practice time because I was the only girl and the coach wanted me to give up, but I didn’t. Instead, I took the pain as a strength to push for more, I didn’t allow the boys to get to me. Only when I am at home, I would cry because of the hard things I had done making sure that I compete with those boys in order for them to know that also girls can play rugby.”

Her challenges were made worse “because also my mother didn’t support me at that time… She even thought that she was going to lose me because of how the sport is being displayed”.

One day at training her coach, Simnikiwe Ngunda, told her he could see the love, the passion, and attitude she had towards rugby, and that she was giving her best and he loved that about her, and that one day she would play for Western Province, then play for the Springboks and “he even told me that, ever since he started coaching girls, I am the first girl that didn’t give him hard time when he was training me then he just left me”.

Anelisa managed to recruit other girls from her school to form a team. In 2016 she a joined a club called Dolphins RFC and her rugby career really took shape. In 2017 Anelisa was selected to the Western Province Under 16 Women's Youth Training Centre (YTC). Unfortunately, she couldn’t play the tournament because she was still a minor. In 2018 she made the team again and was the under 16s vice-captain for National Week tournament that was held at JEPPE High School for Boys.

In 2019 she also made the team, and she was the under16s captain for the National Week tournament that was held at JEPPE High School for Boys. At the end of the tournament Anelisa was awarded as the best captain throughout the national week girl’s tournament. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t make the Under 20 Springbok team because I was still young, but coach Lauren said to me, ‘I believe in you, you are still young but keep on fighting I know you will make the team’. Up to this day I still keep her words and believed what coach Simnikiwe once told me about playing for Springboks.”

The person who Anelisa always look up from is Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Springbok women’s rugby player, “because she also started playing rugby at almost the same age as mine, which makes me believe that she also had go through the challenges I have also faced”.

“I will be a role model to the other rugby players, I will be empowering them, giving them hope, I will be bringing skills and sharing my experience with them and also make them understand the meaning of not giving up in their dreams.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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Matthew Coenraad, who has been drafted into the Western Province (WP) U/21 team, has set his eyes on wearing the green and gold colours of the Springboks one day.

Following his invitation to join the Western Province U/21, Matthew says: “It's an opportunity to take my rugby to the next level and learn and improve my skill set… I am quite proud of myself for this achievement, but I also know that it's just a stepping stone to go to the next level of rugby.” He also concedes that his career journey has been “very up and down.”

“It's tough because you always try to improve yourself and stay disciplined. I'd say what helped me a lot in my career so far is the support I've had from my father because he always pushes me and tells me that I can achieve whatever I put my mind to and also all the coaches who've I worked with  throughout the year and have helped me improve.”

The Kuils River-born 21-year-old CPUT rugby player attended many different primary schools but he finished his primary school career in Pretoria at Laerskool Doringkloof. After finishing high school, Matthew went to the Western Province Rugby Academy in 2020 before joining CPUT in 2021.

“Well funnily enough, my mother didn't want me to play rugby in the beginning and my family pretty much had to beg her to let me [play] and I started playing in Grade 4. I just wanted to play rugby because I remember sitting with my father watching the Springboks play and I just wanted to play,” Matthew continues.

“Just sitting and watching rugby with [my] father made me love the game and the more I played the more my passion for the game grew.”

He is motivated to play rugby by the constant need to be better and to just play the game. “The motivation to better myself as a person as well as all the important people in my life.”

Winning the Varsity Shield as a first-year student for CPUT in 2021 is one of his best memories of his career.  However, this didn’t come without any challenges. “I've faced many challenges from being told I'm too small to being told I'm overweight and  this dips in confidence and during the outbreak of covid-19 I wanted to stop playing but I had people in my life that kept me going and pushing through.”

Matthew has many people who are mentor figures in his life. “To name a few, Alastair Theys, Head Coach: CPUT, Jason Hector, Coach: WP and Western Province Rugby Academy, Jerome Paarwater: Coach: WP, Paul Anthony: Director of rugby: Pretoria Boys’ High. All of these men have helped me grow as a player and pushed me to get be where I am now.”

Matthew continues: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.”

He is also optimistic that CPUT can expect some good rugby and hopefully another Varsity Shield trophy in 2023 and promotion to the Varsity Cup.  “My message to CPUT community is to never give up and always work towards your goals and dreams because if you don't put in the work no one else will.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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CPUT’s formidable rugby team is ready to return to the FNB Varsity Shield tournament this year. They will be going head to head with Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in their first game, which is scheduled for February 22 in Pretoria.

Last year kicked off with a bang when the FNB CPUT team made their debut in the competition and now they are tirelessly preparing for the 2018 competition, which will see seven teams competing for the title.

Their first home game will be on February 26 against Walter Sisulu University at the CPUT Stadium in Wellington and the team is calling on the whole CPUT community to come out and show their support.

This year’s team captain is Henrico Jacobs. “The team has been working hard. Our preparations have included a training camp, which took place from January 4 to 20 in Wellington,” says Bulelani Mlakalaka, Sport Development Officer for Rugby.

Varsity Shield is played in round robin format while the final games will be knockouts.

Last year’s competition was won by UWC who beat Fort Hare in the final.

Visit CPUT Sport for updates: 

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Hard work, a lot of tears, heart breaks, disappointments, empty tummies, loneliness, doubt, not being good enough, having nowhere to go, faith, drive, hope, passion, consistency, has never deterred Nathan Nkutu’s dreams of playing professional rugby.

The 2nd year Public Administration student was one of the new players who were unveiled by the Tafel Lager Griquas for the upcoming Currie Cup season that is set to kick off in January. Nathan’s rugby journey started way before he even started playing rugby.  In 2007, on the day of the World Cup Rugby Final, his family lost their home because they could not afford to pay rent.

 As the destitute family were moving their stuff to friends, the young Nathan, listened to a radio commentary. “I was just listing to them speak about this rugby thing which I had no idea what it was and one of the presenters mentioned Byran Habana and the whole topic just became about him,” says Nathan.

“Hearing everything that was said about him, I whispered that I want to be like Bryan Habana, that name has stuck with me since and being as young as I was, I didn’t know the impact that he had on me, the seed it indirectly planted within me. Now I look back, I realise that was indirectly the start of my journey.”

Nathan, who was born at Kikwiti in the Democratic Republic of the Congo moved to Johannesburg at a very young age with his family.  He vows that he is ready to embark on his new journey with the Griquas, five months after the exposure he got from playing for CPUT in the Varsity Shield.

“My biggest aim here is to play and win the Carling Currie Cup.”

Reflecting on his struggles growing up, Nathan says he and his sisters were raised by his single mother. “We had to rely on the generosity of strangers to survive, month to month, often going to bed hungry or with little to eat when help was not available. I never had a stable home environment growing up as we bounced between house to house, often depending on the generosity of complete strangers and, if it wasn't for these people who provided food and shelter, the coaches who invested in me, friends and their families assisting, I would certainly not be the player or young man I am today.”

Nathan encourages prospective players to stop and look at the bigger picture, the reason as to why they are here, the reason as to why they started. “Have faith in where they are and where they are going because that's how you find the momentum to keep moving forward when things get hard. Whatever they do, they shouldn’t stop believing in their mission because everything will work out exactly as it's supposed to and sometimes even better than they can imagine.”

His  inspiration is her mother, Laurentine Mbele because she’s been unemployed her whole life but managed to raise him and his two  sisters, “people won’t understand how much it takes for a foreign national to come into a country and lose everything but raise three kids, what she’s been through and how much sacrifice that takes”.

At the recent CPUT’s Rugby Awards ceremony, Nathan was announced as the Overall Player of the year.  “It felt unreal because to date that has been the biggest rugby award I’ve received, I felt privileged and honoured to have worn the CPUT rugby jersey and that I’d be leaving it in a much better place than what I received it as. No one starts this journey out successfully; we all have to go through the process to get there! And in that process is a lot of ups and downs, obstacles, and failures that other people may not see but it's the one's that keep pushing forward that truly reach success.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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FNB CPUT recorded its first loss in this year’s Varsity Shield tournament, losing against neigbours FNB UWC last night.

The visitors won the Cape derby 31-10 in a packed CPUT Sports Field in Bellville.

The home side managed a single penalty in the first half with UWC running in three tries to head into the break with a comfortable 17-3 lead.

No points were scored in the first 20 minutes. A single penalty via the boot of Oyintando Maseti was the only first-half points for Alastair Theys' men while UWC ran in three tries.

For UWC, the tries came quickly and fast after the strategic break. Hlomla Ncana, Franco Ceasar and Bilaal Moerat all scored.

At the start of the second half, the 2018 Varsity Shield champions picked up where they left off when Almore Kuilders went over for the bonus point try.

For the next 15 minutes, it was all CPUT as the 2022 finalists stretched the UWC defensive lines, but it held. A series of clinical errors by the home side however prevented them from converting any of the pressure into points.

Despite a late surge and a consolation try by Dwayne Atkins, UWC retain their unbeaten record and secured a convincing victory.

FNB CPUT 10 (3) – Try: Dwayne Atkins. Conversion: Oyintando Maseti Penalty: Maseti

FNB UWC 31 (17) – Tries: Hlomla Ncana, Franco Ceasar, Bilaal Moerat, Almore Kuilders, Louan De Lange. Conversions: Conwill Conradie (3)

FNB Player That Rocks: Conwill Conradie (UWC)

FNB CPUT Rugby fans can look forward to an epic clash this evening when FNB CPUT face neighbours FNB UWC at the CPUT Sports Fields in Bellville.

Both teams are former champions and are unbeaten this year, with FNB UWC currently at the top of the log with 20 points and FNB CPUT in second place with 19 points.

At the end of the 2023 season, the team that finishes at the top of the Varsity Shield log will automatically be promoted to the Varsity Cup.

The game is scheduled to kick off at 19:00 and tickets are available online via Howler and cost R20 each.

The match is expected to be sold out and fans are encouraged to buy tickets in advance.

Howler will be available at the gate to assist with ticket purchases on a first come first served basis (no cash allowed).

Gates will open from 16:00.

The match will also be broadcast live on SuperSport (DStv)

Written by CPUT News
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It was sweet revenge on Thursday evening for the hosts, FNB CPUT, as they beat the reigning Varsity Shield champions 36- 21 at Bellville Sports Field, in what was lauded as a top class rugby match between the champions and former champions.

The home team's captain, Keanan Solomons and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo attributed the victory to the players’ hard work and attitude, saying the players believed they could turn things around and beat the monstrous Luma Ke Blues, as UFH rugby team is affectionately known.

“I am very much happy because for us as the team who lost in the final last year [against UFH], so it’s very difficult for us to face them but we did put in all the hard work and at the end of the day we got the results that we wanted,” said Keanan after the final whistle.

CPUT came back from behind as the defending champions led 13-10 during the half time. Reflecting on the performance of his team, Keanan said: “I am very satisfied because we worked very hard during the week, we take each game as one step to the next game.” Despite the convincing victory, Keanan cautioned his teammates against complacency in the next fixtures. “Never stop working hard, the work is not done yet, so just step by step, we take everything game by game, ja, let’s go.”

Nhlapo, who was amongst the throng of supporters, lauded the team’s consistency. “ I think the boys have shown [consistency]with the fourth game. You can see the level of performance and consistency that it was not a fluke that we won. These are the defending champions, and remember that we are also former champions, so it was champions against champions. But I think now, it has shown who are the real champions,” Nhlapo continued.

“We are really looking for the promotion because this year is for promotion to the next level.”

In his message to the players, the thrilled vice-chancellor said: “They must just keep up the good work and keep on focusing and I think the rest will actually happen on itself.”

FNB CPUT 36 (10) – Tries: Penalty Try, Anenceba Salman, Keanan Solomons, Dwayne Atkins, Oyitando Maseti. Conversions: Ryan George (3) Penalty: George (1).

FNB UFH Blues 21 (13) – Tries: Bantu Simani, Mziyabulela Bathu. Conversion: Merlin du Plessis (1). Penalties: Du Plessis (3)

FNB Player That Rocks: Oyitando Maseti (FNB CPUT)

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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A clinical opening half by FNB CPUT helped them edge past FNB TUT 15-13 at home in Bellville to claim their first win in this year’s Varsity Shield.

The two-time champions are in a serious rebuilding phase and CPUT capitalised on their territory and possession, running in a brilliant first-half try courtesy of Iwaan Bloys handing them a halftime score of 7-3.

Despite a host of errors by both sides, it was CPUT who came out tops with a very disciplined display of determination and skills. Telling runs by Keenan Williams, Ayabulela Zono, and Keewan Titus meant that the possession favoured the home side.

The home side dominated the scrums and, with this advantage, it was Oyintando Maseti who darted through two would-be TUT defenders for his side’s second try.

A late surge in the 72nd minute by TUT saw Kgomotso Maribana gather the ball at the back of a rolling maul to dive over. This was followed up with a second TUT try when Josh Robinson went over handing the visitors the lead for the first time, 12-13.

It was, however, not to be the fairy tale come-from-behind win for TUT as Linton Maritz slotted a 79th-minute penalty for a 15-13 CPUT victory.

SCORERS:

FNB CPUT 15 (7) – Tries: Iwaan Bloys, Oyintando Maseti. Conversions: Oyintando Maseti. Penalties: Linton Maritz.

FNB TUT 13 (3) – Tries: Kgomotso Maribana, Josh Robinson. Penalties. Mauritz Maritz.

FNB Player That Rocks: Oyintando Maseti (FNB CPUT)

With the round-robin games stage of the 2024 FNB Varsity Shield competition nearing its end, FNB CPUT find themselves in unfamiliar territory.

The 2023 runners-up have only won one match and are having to hope for a few balls to hop in their favour.

They will be facing FNB WSU at the CPUT Bellville Stadium on 5 April. CPUT will be hoping to get the most log points from their remaining matches.

Under the mentorship of head coach Alastair Theys, CPUT won back-to-back Varsity Shield titles in 2019 and 2021 while placing as runners-up in 2022 and 2023.

They admit this year things have been decidedly different.

"It has been a tough campaign for us with a lot of challenges, but the boys are in a positive space.

“We have seen great improvements from just the TUT game to the UFH fixture and despite losing the game against UFH, there are a lot of positives to take from it. One of which is that we are hoping that we can keep on improving and pick up two or three wins, to end off well.

“It is the first time we find ourselves in this situation, it is unknown territory from which we have been learning. The main thing, however, is that the guys are positive."

A host of top CPUT players who were prominent in the 2019-2023 period have moved on. This has left Theys, and his experienced assistant coaches Jongikhaya Nokwe and Jerome Paarwater, with virtually a new team.

Roland van der Heever, currently playing for FNB Maties while completing his honours at Stellenbosch University, was part of a formidable and reliable loose trio combination with Ché Klaasen and former captain Keanan Solomons. At the back, fullback Caine Stadler, nippy scrumhalf Hugan Engelbrecht and speedster Heinrico Hartogh have all left massive gaps.

Ahead of the 2024 season Theys said that the current crop of players is very young and that the team will need to build strong combinations, gain experience, and have that team chemistry that only comes from playing together for a few seasons.

Former CPUT rugby player Glendon du Plessis is making his mark in Sweden where he has been appointed as the assistant coach of the Swedish Women’s Rugby Team.

Originally from the Boland town of Paarl, Du Plessis once dreamed of representing his country on the field, but life had other plans. Instead, he has been presented with “amazing opportunities”, which have shaped his career in unexpected ways.

Du Plessis has played in Craven Week, represented CPUT in Varsity Shield and has played for a number of teams overseas.

He graduated with a National Diploma in Sports Management from CPUT in 2015 and later also obtained his Postgraduate Certificate in Education and has taught at schools in South Africa and abroad while also making a name for himself in the world of rugby.

He has fond memories of CPUT and enjoyed being a member of CPUT’s first-ever Varsity Shield team in 2017.

“I also coached the CPUT Women’s Sevens Team for one year,” said Du Plessis.

While he misses home, he is adjusting to life in Stockholm where he joined the Stockholm Exiles RFC and is learning to speak the language.

He is excited about his new job and will be working with fellow South African and former Western Province and Griquas player, Dustin Jinka, who was appointed as the coach of the Swedish Women’s Rugby Team.

“Things don’t always happen the way you want it to but I believe you should never stop dreaming. If you work hard and do everything to the best of your ability, things will happen for you.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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