‘I started playing rugby in grade one as far as I can remember. But I stopped playing rugby in grade four or five because the coaches wouldn’t play me.’
BEING on the rather short side proved to be quite a challenge for Tebogo Archie Makama as he attempted to play rugby at school in his first grade and the eager youngster had to endure being benched by his coaches based on that disadvantage.
The now 19 year-old Makame chose rugby as his preferred sport at Newton Primary school in Kimberley. But he soon realised he had to hassle for game time as the coaches thought nothing of putting him on the bench because what he suspected might have had to do with his height.
“I started playing rugby in grade one as far as I can remember. But I stopped playing rugby in grade four or five because the coaches wouldn’t play me,” Tebogo told the DFA.
The youngster gave up the game he loved and focused elsewhere. However, the rugby bug refused to desert him and he returned to the game again in the later grades.
“I started playing rugby again for the first time when I got to high school in my eighth grade year in 2017. I played in the Under-14 age group team. That year the coaches wouldn’t play me as well. It was not until my cousin’s coach, who was training the Under-15 team at the time, said I could play for his side.”
This proved to be a good decision on Makame’s part as in that same year the school, Northern Cape High, got invited to the Southern Cape Sports Tours rugby festival.
Game time at that festival was later followed by an invite to Makame to join a select Under-15 side which toured New Zealand later that year. In the following year he was again fortunate to be invited to a select junior side that toured Ireland.
In his senior year at school in 2019 Makame regularly played for the Under-19B squad. That was also the last time that he played for a school side.
Fast forward to 2022 and Makame made another return to his beloved rugby. He joined Galeshewe’s only rugby team the Black Warriors where he is currently playing at number eight.
