adminPaul Munyuki Sports Reporter
RESULTS might not have come as Zimbabwe would have wanted, but making a debut at the Cape Town leg of the World Sevens Rugby Series was not only exciting but a grand platform for Mkululi Ndhlela to launch his international career.
Although the centre has featured for Zimbabwe in the Young Sables for the Africa Cup qualifiers, the former Churchill Bulldogs backliner would not forget the attacking contact he made at the global tournament, this coming against South Africa when he took on arguably the fastest man in the competition Seabelo Senatla
Zimbabwe lost to South Africa in the opening game, followed by a defeat at the hands of Kenya and rounded up their group games with another heavy loss at the hands of England.
Those results painted a gloomy picture of the local game.
However, to the 21-year-old Ndhlela, the South African tournament was a grand stage for him to get a feel of the pressure that comes along with playing at such a high level, it was just the right point to start his international career experiencing the best teams in the game.
He did not have much time on the field, but the few times he came on the park as a substitute, he made sure he left an impression despite the pressure that comes with international rugby.
“Yes, Cape Town was awesome, great platform to have a debut though the results were not in our favour and I wish I had got more game time there as well.
“True it was not easy to have one of the fastest guys (Senatla) as the first defender you try to beat. But I had the support from everyone they believed in me.
“I am glad I played well the few times I was on the park and I know given the opportunity I could have made a magic moment.
“And having played for Bulldogs and to have captained the side in 2013 at the Cottco Festival (now Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival) is also so pressure so I have managed to deal with it since my high school days . . . Though levels are different.”
It was not an easy journey for him to be part of the Cheetahs squad at the Cape Town Sevens as the Pretoria University backliner had a month earlier been dropped from the Zimbabwe Olympic qualifier squad in Johannesburg.
Ndhlela was not even in coach Daniel Hondo’s initial plan for the Cape Town Sevens, until Tapiwa Tsomondo withdrew due to club commitments a few days before the tournament, and he gladly accepted the late call-up which presented him with a chance to be capped.
“It had always been my dream to play at such big tournaments so when I got the call up from management it got me hyped up though at first I thought it was a prank . . . I could not believe it.
“Cape Town Sevens is a big thing and for me to debut there sounded a little too good to be true though at the beginning of the year I had set sights on making my Cheetahs debut at the Olympic qualifier, something that did not happen.
Nevertheless, all this, he says came at a prize.
“Working with Blue Bulls Academy and Tusk (UP) rugby has changed me as a player. Having played from January till August I have gained experience and exposure and some taste of how to handle yourself as a player. There are top class coaches there is tough opposition and good mentors.
Online Reporter