News / Local
Zim lose another rugby star to SA
19 Dec 2010 at 15:57hrs | Views
ZIMBABWE continues to lose talented sports persons to other countries
following the call-up of Bulawayo-born Michael Williams to the South
African national Under-20 rugby training squad.
The squad is preparing for the International Rugby Board Junior World Championships pencilled for Italy in 2011.
Williams, a lock, has been playing rugby in South Africa since he enrolled at the Sharks Academy in Durban. It is at the same Academy where another Zimbabwean star Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira was groomed into a Springboks player after being spotted while turning out for the Zimbabwe Under-18 at the annual Coca-Cola Craven Week.
The 19-year-old Williams, a former student at Christian Brothers College in Bulawayo, returned to South Africa last Sunday for the two-day training camp in Cape Town last Tuesday and Thursday.
During camp the players were introduced to their coach Dawie Theron and were also addressed by South African Rugby Union chief executive officer Jurie Roux.
Williams, who plays club rugby for College Rovers in Durban, captained the Sharks Under-19 in this year's edition of the Under-19 ABSA Currie Cup during which the Under-20 selectors spotted him.
In an interview, just before he flew back to South Africa last weekend, an overly excited Williams was confident that he would make it into the final squad to be announced next year.
"I have just been called up to the South African national Under-20 squad, it was my biggest dream and I now hope to make it into the final squad. I also want to play for the Springboks and will give up when I get to the age of 25," said Williams.
Williams' father, Wayne who also played lock for Zimbabwe at Under-19 level alongside the likes of Adrian Garvey and Brendon Dawson, now national team coach, was full of praise for his son considering that he struggled to make it into the CBC Under-15 team.
"I am really proud of Michael's achievements, at CBC at Under-15 he played for the B team because he was overweight and he only started to play for the first team at Under-16. After realising that my son was not gifted academically I approached Brendan Dawson who facilitated for him to go for trials at the Sharks Academy last year and he made it," said Williams senior.
It was not easy for the young Williams to make the grade at the Sharks Academy as 450 aspiring candidates are invited for trials every year with only 90 enrolled.
As he gets into his final year at the Sharks Academy, Williams will be involved in coaching those in their first year. He will also graduate to the Sharks Under-21 for the Under-21 edition of the ABSA Currie Cup.
Making it to the South African national Under-20 will pave the way for Williams to realise his dream of playing for the Springboks. And through that feat, he will join the likes of Garvey, Gary Teichmann, Bobby Skinstaad, Tonderai Chavhanga, Brian Mujati and Mtawarira as Zimbabwean players, who have donned the famous Green and Gold Springboks jersey.
The squad is preparing for the International Rugby Board Junior World Championships pencilled for Italy in 2011.
Williams, a lock, has been playing rugby in South Africa since he enrolled at the Sharks Academy in Durban. It is at the same Academy where another Zimbabwean star Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira was groomed into a Springboks player after being spotted while turning out for the Zimbabwe Under-18 at the annual Coca-Cola Craven Week.
The 19-year-old Williams, a former student at Christian Brothers College in Bulawayo, returned to South Africa last Sunday for the two-day training camp in Cape Town last Tuesday and Thursday.
During camp the players were introduced to their coach Dawie Theron and were also addressed by South African Rugby Union chief executive officer Jurie Roux.
Williams, who plays club rugby for College Rovers in Durban, captained the Sharks Under-19 in this year's edition of the Under-19 ABSA Currie Cup during which the Under-20 selectors spotted him.
In an interview, just before he flew back to South Africa last weekend, an overly excited Williams was confident that he would make it into the final squad to be announced next year.
"I have just been called up to the South African national Under-20 squad, it was my biggest dream and I now hope to make it into the final squad. I also want to play for the Springboks and will give up when I get to the age of 25," said Williams.
Williams' father, Wayne who also played lock for Zimbabwe at Under-19 level alongside the likes of Adrian Garvey and Brendon Dawson, now national team coach, was full of praise for his son considering that he struggled to make it into the CBC Under-15 team.
"I am really proud of Michael's achievements, at CBC at Under-15 he played for the B team because he was overweight and he only started to play for the first team at Under-16. After realising that my son was not gifted academically I approached Brendan Dawson who facilitated for him to go for trials at the Sharks Academy last year and he made it," said Williams senior.
It was not easy for the young Williams to make the grade at the Sharks Academy as 450 aspiring candidates are invited for trials every year with only 90 enrolled.
As he gets into his final year at the Sharks Academy, Williams will be involved in coaching those in their first year. He will also graduate to the Sharks Under-21 for the Under-21 edition of the ABSA Currie Cup.
Making it to the South African national Under-20 will pave the way for Williams to realise his dream of playing for the Springboks. And through that feat, he will join the likes of Garvey, Gary Teichmann, Bobby Skinstaad, Tonderai Chavhanga, Brian Mujati and Mtawarira as Zimbabwean players, who have donned the famous Green and Gold Springboks jersey.
Source - Byo24
