I’m sure it is going to happen because I have seen the rich talent in the Sharks’ junior ranks
LATE in the Sharks’ victory over the Bulls at Jonsson Kings Park last Friday, there was a lovely cameo from substitute scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba, who came on and with a solo try secured the win for the home team, with a sensational break to the line.
Nohamba, who turned 21 in January, epitomises the Young Turks that threaten to take the Sharks into a golden era.
I’m sure it is going to happen because I have seen the rich talent in the Sharks’ junior ranks.
The recruiting at the Sharks could hardly have been better under new chief operating officer Eduard Coetzee, a one-time prop at the Sharks who went on to fashion a career in France, before graduating into administration.
Consider the following: The Sharks have 20 junior South African internationals in their academy ranks (SA Schools and SA Under-21 players), some of whom broke into the senior team in the Currie Cup last year, Nohamba a primary example, and almost all of those players at some stage were coached by Sean Everitt, the personable coach who took over from controversial Robert du Preez as head coach after Super Rugby last year.
There has also been a round of recruitment of slightly older players to take over from the raft of senior players that finished up after Super Rugby in 2019, an inevitable fact of life for all unions in a World Cup year.
Here we are talking about the likes of Ox Nche (Cheetahs), Hanco Venter (Cheetahs), James Venter (Lions), Michael Kumberai (Western Province), Werner Kok (Blitzboks), Jordan Chait (Maties), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (WP) and Madosh Tambwe (Lions).
Then the core of the Super Rugby side are not exactly has-beens – Sbu Nkosi, Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am, Curwin Bosch, Thomas du Toit, Kerron van Vuuren, Hyron Andrews and Ruben van Heerden. Things are certainly brewing at the Shark Tank. – Mike Greenaway
