by Tanisha Heiberg | Sep 23, 2015 | Featured 1, Sport
The 2015 Rugby World Cup is underway in England, but how much do you know about the Springbok team?
Get to know the Springbok squad, their positions, test caps and some of the more unusual things about the men in green and gold.
Props:
Coenie Oosthuizen (23), Trevor Nyakane (15), Tendai Mtawarira (67), Frans Malherbe (5), Jannie du Plessis (70)
It’s a family affair for Sharks and former Cheetahs tighthead prop Jannie Du Plessis holds the record for the most test caps with his brother Bismark, also a member of the Springboks. Both brothers were on the bench at the 2007 Rugby World Cup final.
Another powerhouse player with a strong scrum technique is Tendai Mtawarira, aka Beast, who first played for the Springboks against Wales in 2008.
The Zimbabwe-born prop was so determined to succeed as a rugby player that he rode his bicycle from his lodgings in Morningside to the Sharks Academy in Durban despite being teased, according to IOL.
![Tendai Mtawarira during the 2011 Super Rugby Competition when the Sharks took on the Rebels. Photo: RykNeethling from Melbourne, Australia (Rabodirect Rebels vs Sharks Uploaded by stemoc) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://witsvuvuzela.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Rabodirect_Rebels_vs_Sharks_5537191278.jpg-beast-400x600.jpg)
Tendai Mtawarira during the 2011 Super Rugby Competition when the Sharks took on the Rebels. Photo: RykNeethling, via Wikimedia Commons
Hookers:
Adriaan Strauss (50), Bismarck du Plessis (74), Schalk Brits (12)
Schalk Brits made his Springbok debut in 2008 according to SA Rugby.
This experienced player has played for the Golden Lions, the Cats, Western Provence, the Stormers and signed for English team, the Saracens, in the 2009/2010 season.
Despite Bismark du Plessis being one of the most feared hookers in recent seasons, the 112kg player also has a softer side which is evident after he told SA Rugby that his favourite movie is the epic drama, Legends of the Fall.
Springbok prop, Bismarck du Plessis, at Murrayfield during a test match against Scotland. Photo: Sahmejil, via Wiki Commons
Centre:
Jesse Kriel (3), Jean de Villiers (108) (captain), Damian de Allende (8)
Captain Jean de Villiers has suffered many injuries along his rugby journey.
In 2002 he tore ligaments in his right knee; in the 2007 World Cup he tore his biceps in the first match, and in the 2011 World Cup opener, he popped a rib.
But in November 2014, de Villiers suffered a sever injury when he dislocated his kneecap, ruptured three knee ligaments and torn his hamstring at the top and bottom during the November game against Wales, according to the Telegraph.
Jesse Kriel is part of another sibling duo with his twin brother Dan Kriel who both excelled in the Junior Springboks in 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKCseJwe8C0
Locks:
Victor Matfield (125) (vice-captain), Eben Etzebeth (36), Pieter-Steph du Toit (3), Lood de Jager (12)
Former junior Springbok who was part of the winning 2012 World Rugby U20 Championships, Pieter-Steph du Toit, was close to missing his chance of being a part of the 2015 Springbok squad.
Du Toit was all but ruled out after he twisted his knee in a Sharks versus Cheetahs match in March this year. But thanks to his father, Pieter du Toit who donated his own ligament, the lock recovered in time for the World Cup according to SuperSport.
Vice-captain Victor Matfield came out of retirement for the World Cup, and has played the most games for the Springboks with 125 test caps.
At 2 metres tall and thought to be one of the best locks in the world, it’s no surprise that this giant’s favorite movie is Thor, according to SA Rugby.
Victor Matfield (right) being lifted during a line out during the Lion during versus Bulls game during the Super 15 in March 2011. Photo: Tyler Yeo, via Wiki Commons.
Loose Trio:
Duane Vermeulen (32), Francois Louw (38),Siya Kolisi (11), Schalk Burger (77), Willem Alberts (35)
Siya Kolisi, who made his full Springbok debut against Scotland, is not only an excellent rugby player but also a family man who loves home cooked umphokogo (pap and amasi) according to Destiny Man.
Kolisi also told the magazine that he is currently working on getting custody of his half siblings aged 7 and twelve, whom he lost touch with when they were taken into social services care 7 years ago.
A player who had to overcome adversity is Schalk Burger who went into hospital to do a routine draining of a cyst next to his spinal when he developed bacterial meningitis according to Timeslive.
Burger fought for his life in intensive care last year and recovered to take back his place in the green and gold lineup.
Schalk Burger running toward the try-line in a match against Samoa during the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Photo: derivative work: Anrie (talk), via Wiki Commons
Scrumhalf:
Ruan Pienaar (93), Rudy Paige (0), Fourie du Preez (70)
Newcomer and Blue Bulls scrum-half, Rudy Paige, is a local Joburger who studied at the University of Johannesburg.
Despite being the only uncapped player in the squad, Paige is eager to prove himself at the World Cup, according to the SA Rugby Magazine.
The South African rugby union player Ruaan Pienaar at Murrayfield during a test match against Scotland. Photo: Sahmejil, via Wiki Commons
Flyhalf:
Morné Steyn (61), Handré Pollard (13), Patrick Lambie (46)
The multi talented Patrick Lambie has the rare ability to be able to play fullback, flyhalf and centre positions according to an interview with Club X. Lambie was also the youngest member of the squad the last time the Springboks were in the Rugby World Cup in 2011.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1Ebvi_ntHM
Back Trio:
JP Pietersen (63), Lwazi Mvovo (20), Willie le Roux (29), Zane Kirchner (30), Bryan Habana (110)
Bryan Habana scored his first test try in his debut for the Springboks and hasn’t stopped since then. The speedster who has raced a cheetah and an Airbus A380 scored four tries against Samoa during the 2007 World Cup.
![Bryan Habana joining the South Africa Rugby World Cup 2007 Winners in a Parade on a bus. Photo: E M i L i A [2], via Wiki Commons](https://witsvuvuzela.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Springbok_parade.jpg)
Bryan Habana joining the South Africa Rugby World Cup 2007 Winners in a Parade on a bus. Photo: E M i L i A [2], via Wiki Commons
by Reuven Blignault | Sep 18, 2015 | Sport
The Springboks are ready to take on the Rugby World Cup 2015. They will be playing in venues that are usually the hallowed ground of football fanatics.
In the past few months, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the use of these grounds. Football critics are worried about the damage 22 heavy-set men will cause to the pristine football pitches.
INBOUND: The springboks will be playing across various venues around the UK. In group B, they will be facing Japan, Scotland, Samoa and the USA.
by Valerie Robinson | Sep 18, 2015 | News, Sport
Tonight is the opening of the highly anticipated world cup, with the Boks playing their first match tomorrow, are armed with the right details?
The world awaits: The rugby world cup will kick off in London tonight, with Twickenham stadium the stage for opening game. Photo: David Rogers.
The 2015 Rugby world cup will kick off tonight, when hosts England will face Fiji at 21:00.
The opening ceremony will start at 20:00 and will tell the story of the sport’s birth. Expected to be included is the story of William Webb Ellis, who in 1823 picked up a football and started running with it and is often credited as the creator of the sport.
Today the world cup’s trophy is named the Webb Ellis Cup. The show is expected to last 20 minutes and will end 40 minutes before the first match will kick off.
South Africa will play their first game tomorrow against Japan. All South Africa’s pool games are scheduled to take place at 17:45 making it convenient for most of us to catch the game.
Also joining us in Pool B will be Samoa, USA and Scotland. Most predictions point to us progressing from the group stages. But the problem starts after that. With their being a very good chance that we will be facing either hosts England or Australia in the quarter-finals, or perhaps even New-Zealand in the semi-finals.
If this is the case many believe the finals might be too predictable an outcome with all the tension placed in the previous rounds.
The obvious teams to keep an eye on are Australia and England in Pool A, New-Zealand, Argentina, France.
This will be the 4th World Cup for veteran Boks Schalk Burger and Victor Matfield. It was clear at their welcoming event, last Sunday, that the team have supporters backing them in England. More than a hundred people were stranded when the venue in Eastbourne reached full capacity, as crowds fill the stadium to cheer on the Boks.
by Anlerie de Wet | Sep 2, 2015 | Sport
Agency for New Agenda only used the application to bar the Springboks from the World Cup as a ‘tactic’ to get SARU and the Minister of Sport to talk about transformation.
Agency for New Agenda leader, Tshidiso Mokhoanatse in the Pretoria High Court on Wednesday, after withdrawing his application to bar the Springboks from leaving the country. Photo: Anlerie de Wet
Agency for New Agenda withdrew their application to bar the Springboks from going to the Rugby World Cup, at the Pretoria High Court on Wednesday.
The relatively unknown political party’s leader, Tshidiso Mokhoanatse made an urgent order to the court last week to keep the national rugby team from participating in the World Cup in England later this month, arguing that the South African Rugby Union hasn’t met transformation requirements.
“The application was just a tactical move to get them [SARU] to work with us,” said Mokhoanatse.
He said he wants the Springboks to go to the World Cup, but SARU and the Minister of Sport must come to the table when it comes to transformation.
Although the interdict against the Boks has been withdrawn, the ANA still wants the court to order that communities must be allowed to get involved in the transformation process of the sport -as set out in Rule 16A.
Mokhoanatse said the ANA sees today as a victory as it is a step closer to their goal to “remove the authority in charge to make way for the constitution.”
The matter of ANA’s order on Rule 16A will be settled outside the court at a later date, giving the Boks need to prepare on a camp this weekend and ultimately participate in the World Cup.
by Reuven Blignault | Sep 1, 2015 | Sport
ON THE REBOUND: Wits’ Aleksandar Kocic put pressure on the WSU defence on a break away. Photo: Reuven Blignault
Wits FC will play in their first-ever Varsity Football semi-final after they walked away with a 2-1 win over Walter Sisulu (WSU) at home on Monday.
An elated Wits coach Karabo Mogudi expressed that while he was happy for the team, it has been a stressful week for them.
“Every coach and team wants to win matches, and we are peaking at the right time, but this week was the worst for the players because its test week, I can see a lot of them didn’t sleep. This was evident with the start of the match, we were very poor,” he told Varsity Sport.
Wits started off as the more impressive of the two teams and dominated play in the opening few minutes. Wits’ Gift Baloyi had the game’s first attempt at goal.
The away side held their own though and took the lead with a goal from Bonke Mbadlanyana.
The visitors from the coast pushed forward in the second half and almost achieved the same number of opportunities in front of goal as they did in the first ten minutes of the game.
With a semi-final spot at stake, Wits gained momentum by applying continuous pressure on the WSU defence in the latter part of the game.
Goals by Saluleko Mathonsi and substitute Graeme Dor completed a great comeback in the dying minutes of the game for the home side.
This was the second consecutive fixture where Wits left it till late to secure a victory and have now increased their chances of making the next phase of the competition.
In the previous match, Wits came out firing but were unable to score against Vaal University of Technology (VUT), and managed only a draw.
Wits’ next semi-final match will take place on September 10 against an unconfirmed opponent.
by Masego Panyane | Aug 28, 2015 | Sport
STILL KICKING: Wits FC is steadily trying to ascend to their place as champions of university league football. The team is currently participating in the varsity football league, where they have won two out of five matches.
It was a season of drawing or losing for Wits university senior men’s team until two matches ago when they managed to start an unexpected winning streak.
It started off as a shaky campaign for the Wits side in July when they suffered a goalless loss against both North West University and Tshwane University of Technology. The season seemed like it would be something that would end in tears for Wits supporters.
At that point it looked as though Wits was leaving the tournament the same way they did in 2013 – bombed out with the worst loss to TUT, 3-0.
The change for the Wits side came in Round 5 when they brought the momentum of the UP Tuks side to a screeching halt.
Tuks had won two matches in a row, and suffered only one loss in the season so far. But their streak was stopped by Wits FC with a 2-1 win.
Round 6 also saw Wits beat the Vaal University of Technology 2-1 on their home turf infamously known as the slaughter house.
This sudden but welcome change of events leaves Wits at 4th place on the Varsity Football Log with one more match to go before the semi-final round.
Wits will meet Walter Sisulu University on Monday evening at the Bidvest Wits Stadium. Kick-off is at 6pm.
by Anlerie de Wet | Aug 28, 2015 | Sport
The Clever Boys came back from a spirit dampening loss against Mamelodi Sundowns last week to taking the third spot on the log after showing Maritzburg United how its done.
PERFECT BOOT: Bidvest Wits debutant and goal scorer, Kris Bright trying to break the defence of opponents, Maritzburg United. Photo: Anlerie de Wet
ROUND THREE of the Absa Premiership saw Bidvest Wits beat their KwaZulu-Natal guests at home Wednesday night and slide into a familiar third place on the rankings.
Maritzburg United’s captain Ashley Hartog made a visible effort to keep the players forged in Jozi from scoring, but two powerful goals flew past him and his team.
After what was a very slow start for the Clever Boys with a couple of failed open shots at goal, New Zealander Kris Bright scored a beauty from Daine Klaite’s corner kick.
Bright had a massive game and worked well with Elias Pelembe and Sibusiso Vilakazi until he was sent to rest in the middle of the second half.
Wits kicked-off the second half with Vilakazi’s right boot directing the ball past the Maritzburg goalie, Virgil Vries, to stretch the home side’s lead to 2-0. This goal came two minutes after the start of the half with a great assist from debutant Bright.
With many attempts at goal none of the teams seemed to be able to score after Vilakazi’s success, leaving the final score at 2-0.
The discipline in this game was something to strive for in the rest of the season. There were only a total of three yellow cards between the two teams as Wits already had five yellows against them from two games and Maritzburg a troubling 13.
Wits managed to move-up the rankings from 10th to 3rd with six points, just below their Ajax Cape Town rivals. But the Maritzburg boys failed to sway away from their 15th position.
Although the Clever Boys’ performance is a step-up from that of their 4-2 defeat last week against Mamelodi Sundowns, they still failed to convert a couple of easy opportunities. They won’t get away with these slip-ups as easily when they face the calibre of Ajax this Saturday in the MTN 8 semi-finals.
Bidvest Wits will be taking on AmaTuks in their next Absa Premiership round on September 13 in Pretoria.
by Litaletu Zidepa | Aug 14, 2015 | Sport
KARATE KID: Simba Tevera is one of five Witsies featured on the Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans list. Tevera hopes his nomination will allow him to impact and inspire the youth. Photo: Zimasa Mpemnyama
Wits Vuvuzela sat down with Simba Tevera who is featured on the Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans list. This list features young achievers who are making an impact in civil society, education and sports, to name a few. Simba is an Honours student majoring in Psychology. He describes himself as a hard working person who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
The Mandela Rhodes Scholar is nominated in the sports category and tells Wits Vuvuzela that he feels quite privileged to be among amazing individuals that are shaping the country.
“I think for me it reaffirms that everything is possible if you set your mind to it, but you’ve got to believe in yourself. I think for me it’s important to be associated with these people, some of these people are doing phenomenal things, so I think for me it’s a call to responsibility.”
When asked about why he started Karate, Tevera gloated and said “It’s a funny story because when I was young I was so overweight and sport wasn’t my thing.”
It was this that led his mother to push Simba to take Karate, a decision he thanks his mother for.
“When I got to Wits I fell in love with their karate society. The instructors are amazing, the team is strong and Wits is one of the best Karate teams in South Africa.”
With three years under his belt, Tevera has been a recipient of many Karate awards.
He holds 11 gold medals, six silver and three bronze. He has also received his Half and Full Colours in Karate, USSA University Sport Karate Champion and has been the Japanese Karate Associate National Champion for South Africa for three years.
While holding many awards, Simba has been selected for the South African National team and is set to compete in the Africa Cup in September this year, an experience he describes as ‘overwhelming’.
“I’m putting in the training and the effort, my team believes in me and I’ve got an amazing instructor Sensei JP. He pushes me and the team pushes me, so I’m privileged. I can’t believe it.” he said.
Tevera hopes his nomination will make a positive impact and influence the youth to go for everything they set their minds to.
“I believe sport plays a great role in the youth. In Karate for example, we learn morals around character, etiquette, effort, sincerity, self-control and respect. So I really think sports can help develop the youth and get people believing in themselves.”
by Reuven Blignault | Aug 7, 2015 | Sport
BURSTING WITH SPIRIT: Pumping up the crowd, the Wits cheerleaders are at every match religiously, despite the low fan turn-out. Photo: Rafieka Williams.
With a capacity for 5 000 people, the Bidvest stadium has been barely filled during the past two home games, reaching a peak of about 300 fans, this despite over 2 000 free tickets handed out at lunch times before the pre-match week.
A planned beer garden to drum up excitement for the Wits football team has been cancelled due to time constraints and a lack of commitment from sponsors, the latest example of the team struggling to get support.
Wits is due to play an upcoming home match against the Tshwane University of Technology on Monday. The beer garden is now being planned for the next home game.
The roar of the crowd is enough to inspire any team to victory, but not if there is no crowd. The Wits Sport office is growing ever more concerned at the lack of fan support during this year’s Varsity Football tournament, and is thinking of new ways to gather fans for the Wits team.
“Wits played incredibly well against the NMMU-Madibaz last Monday by winning 1-0 against them, but we were disappointed with the supporter turnout,” said Wits Sports officer Marcus Toerien.
Toerien believes that this lack of spirit derives from a culture the university has institutionalised that favours rugby over football.
“The beginning of the year Varsity Shield tournament (rugby) drew thousands of supporters to the stands of the Wits Rugby stadium,” said Toerien. “Why can’t fans support football in the same way?”
Even though banners and an extensive social media campaign had been put into place, the supporter turnout is poor.
“Other universities where the same tournament is being played have stands filled to capacity … There is a deep lack of spirit amongst Wits supporters.”
“We want to give students a tournament that they love by showing that football at Wits is not just for die hard football fans … It can be enjoyed by everybody.”
With a capacity for 5 000 people, the stadium has been barely filled during the past two home games, reaching a peak of about 300 fans, this despite over 2 000 free tickets handed out at lunch times before the pre-match week.
This lack of support has called into question the lack of spirit at Wits, especially when it comes to football.
“We are urging everyone at Wits, staff and students, to come and support our team every Monday … Without your support, our team will suffer.”
The Varsity Football tournament has been running from July 20 and will end on September 24.
by Riante Naidoo | Jul 21, 2015 | News, Sport
Wits University kicked off the Varsity Football tournament at home against the University of the Western Cape last night. Wits put up a strong fight despite the goalless draw. Both coaches thought it was a fair result and hoped to build on last night’s performance.
The Wits University Football Club kicked off the Varsity Football Tournament in competitive style yesterday evening against the University of the Western Cape (UWC). The game which resulted in a goalless draw. Play was even for the most part, but Wits had the edge on ball possession despite fielding eight new players.
“It was a good ice-breaker for the guys,” said Wits coach, Karabo Mogudi. UWC’s coach, Salie Adams felt that “it was a very tough game” for them.
Wits held majority of the ball possession in the first half, but Mogudi said “a few good decisions could have been made and translated into goals.”
Adams said they “gave up ball possession much too easily with poor technicalities.” Two minutes of extra time in the first half did not provide either team with a better goal opportunity.
KICK-OFF: Wits kept the pressure on the University of the Western Cape last night as both teams kicked off the Varsity Football Tournament at the Bidvest Wits stadium, Wits University. Photo: Sibongile Machika.
Wits played a stronger game in the second half with a forceful attack and three possible goal opportunities, however they failed to find the back of the net.
“If we remained calm under pressure, we could have converted a lot of those chances,” Mogudi said. “Wits’ main goal scorers let their nerves get the better of them but we can build on this,” he added.
Wits fileded eight new players, including last night’s captain, Hope Munyai. Mogudi said that as a captain, “He [Munyai] is always solid” and that the team relies on players like him to carry us.”
This is Adams’ second year as UWC coach and he came through with 70% of last year’s squad. He said what let them down was the team’s lack of general fitness.
“Being students, they don’t concentrate on fitness,” which he felt was their “biggest problem.”
Despite this, he said that the result was “a fair reflection of the game,” while Mogudi hopes that Wits’ next game is a greater success.
“Next week I assure you a better performance and I hope the fans come here in numbers,” he said.
by Anlerie de Wet | Jun 13, 2015 | News, Sport
Wits Gymnastics may not be attending the USSA tournament over a demand for a fee of R1500 per gymnast by Wits Sport. Wits Sport has argued the club hasn’t done its part in fundraising and must now step up to the plate.
HOOLA HOOPING:Senior Wits gymnast Makgotso Tibane showed impressive structure and skills doing her first competition in rhythmic gymnastics in the hoops section early May. Photo: Anlerie de Wet
Wits Gymnastics athletes were left disappointed when they learned will not receive funding from Wits Sport to attend the University Sport South Africa (USSA) tournament this June.
Wits head of sport, Adrian Carter, notified the club’s co-chairperson, Nonkululeko Mdluli earlier this week that the club has not met funding requirements to attend the USSA Gymnastics tournament end of June in Potchefstroom unless each competing member coughed up R1 500. The athletes were only given three days to raise the money.
“We understand that there isn’t a lot of money and that we need to make a contribution, but three days is too short notice for students to pay such a large amount,” said Mdluli.
Carter said the gymnastics club knew since the end of February when they handed in their USSA budget, allegedly late, indicating the direct cost of R2 275 per student, of which each student would contribute R898. “They haven’t paid in their contribution nor did they meet the required fundraising amount,” said Carter.
Mdluli sent an official response on behalf of the club to Carter’s request, stating they have raised R25 656 from registration fees, a welcome braai and yet to be sold T-shirts. According to the response, over a 100 members registration fees brought the club R24 561. However, Carter said it would be unfair to allow the 14 gymnasts who qualified for USSA to use funds intended to benefit the entire club.
The gymnastics club’s USSA budget was R44 400, the club has R54 000 in their reserve account. According to Carter the money budgeted for transport is insufficient and the actual total cost to send 14 gymnasts to USSA would be more than R50 000.00.
“I’m trying to be fair as possible, but I’m not going to give this club R50 000 and leave less than R4 000 in the reserve for next year’s group to struggle,” said Carter.
Mdluli further protested that they were “thrown in the deep end” with Carter’s new financial system and there was no training from Wits Sport on how to approach businesses for sponsorship or how to draft a sponsorship proposal.
But Carter said Wits Gymnastics could have come to him for help at any time.
“Any club could’ve come to me earlier in the year to ask for help with sponsorship issues. Some took the initiative, but the gymnastics club didn’t,” said Carter.
Wits Gymnastics club is now facing cutting the list of members going to USSA or staying home altogether. Carter and the Gymnastics Committee are meeting next week once more to try and find a solution for the club to go to Potchefstroom in just two weeks’ time.
by Riante Naidoo | Jun 12, 2015 | Featured 1, News, Sport
Witsies proudly celebrated the success of runner Caroline Wostmann, an accounting lecturer at Wits University, after she won the 90th Comrades Marathon. Wostmann was the first South African to win in the women’s race in sixteen years and had a message of success for her fellow Witsies.
It was not long after she crossed the finish line of the 90th Comrades Marathon as its ladies’ winner that Caroline Wostmann was back at her day job to invigilate exams. Wostmann, a senior accounting lecturer, received personal congratulations from her students at Wits after her momentous victory last week.
“I received a round of applause after their exam today which was very humbling and many came past to personally congratulate me,” Wostmann said.
Wostmann was back to the grind shortly after her win and in between interviews with national and international media, took some time out to give Witsies some sound advice just in time for the exam period.
“We have worked hard as a family and made many sacrifices to achieve this dream”
“Believe in your dreams and work hard to make those dreams a reality,” she said. “Hard work and dedication is the key to success,” she added.
It has been 16 years since a South African woman won the Comrades marathon, and Wostmann, who ran her fifth Comrades this year, finished the race in 6:12:22.
“I am proud to have brought the Comrades victory in the women’s race back to South Africa,” she said.
Wostmann, who also won the Two Oceans in March, said her family dedicated a lot to her achievement.
“We have worked hard as a family and made many sacrifices to achieve this dream I had of winning Comrades and are thrilled that my dream came true,” she said.
CHAMPION: Wostmann carried a rose which symbolised a top 10 position, as she entered The Oval where the Comrades marathon ended last week Sunday. Photo: Riante Naidoo.
In previous interviews with Wostmann, she never anticipated winning, but ONLY hoped to secure a top ten position.
“When I crossed the finish line, I had no idea that second place was so far behind me!” she laughed.
Wostmann’s position earned her a gold medal and cash prize of R 350 000, among several other cash prizes.
She said she has not had a chance to think about what she will do with her winnings yet, and will “only receive my medals after doping tests have been cleared which will probably be around October.”
The Comrades winner added that she will return to KwaZulu-Natal next year to defend her title and may consider competing on an international level.
RELATED ARTICLES:
![Tendai Mtawarira during the 2011 Super Rugby Competition when the Sharks took on the Rebels. Photo: RykNeethling from Melbourne, Australia (Rabodirect Rebels vs Sharks Uploaded by stemoc) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://witsvuvuzela.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Rabodirect_Rebels_vs_Sharks_5537191278.jpg-beast.jpg)
