FNB Wits ready for a strong showing as 2022 Varsity Cup gets underway
- Tshepiso Mametela
FNB Wits will be eyeing nothing less than a strong start to the 2022 FNB Varsity Cup when the annual flagship inter-university rugby union competition makes its much-anticipated return on Monday, 14 February.
With the bio bubble that reined in the previous edition of the tournament now a thing of the past due to dwindling 网易体育 infection numbers, the side is amped to sharpen its claws against a young FNB Madibaz outfit boasting only four players from last year’s squad.
Braced to lead his charges for this first encounter in a total of nine round-robin games under ‘Monday Night Lights’ starting at the Wits Rugby Stadium is Ebot Buma, who’s been handed the responsibility of wearing the captain’s armband.
“We had a long pre-season, so we can manage any load or intensity that comes our way,” said Buma confidently. “This year’s format is better as we will only play one match a week, allowing the lads [enough] time to recover.
“We might tweak our tactics slightly to combat each opponent, but our basics will stay the same. We’re entering a new era of Wits rugby, with many new faces and talent that is hungry to make a mark.”
The burly prop said he looks to make an immense contribution to Wits’ cause to improve on the side’s third-place finish in 2018. With his go-to recipe comprising his love of church, family and his two pet dogs, among a host of other things, Buma has whetted his readiness for the challenge to come.
“My contributions will fall in line with the team’s way of play: ‘fast and furious’. I will make sure that I show this in every scrum, ball carry, tackle, maul, lift, and, if need be, steal balls at the ruck. As rewarding as it is, being a student-athlete can be taxing on the mind, body and spirit.
“Fortunately, over the years, I’ve discovered through trial and error what works and helps me be the best version of myself,” said the skipper. Touching on the player recruitment programme and how he’s seen it coming through at the institution in the last few seasons, Buma said Wits is in a prime position to tap into its well-stocked reserves.
The university faces the prospect of losing several players to the Under-20 provincial and Currie Cup tournaments that will run concurrently with the Varsity Cup. “I am a product of the player recruitment programme, and there are several players in the team with whom I started my Wits journey,” he added.
“Every year, we get more and more players who have played junior provincial rugby and represented the country at junior level. Seeing as the other competitions are playing at the same time, we might not get to utilise all those players. But, best believe, we have all the players we need to get the job done.”