Ikeys Feature at UCT Sports Awards
The Ikey Tigers stole the show at the UCT Sports Awards earlier this month, with our very own rising star Kuyenzeka (Nama) Xaba being named the best first-year athlete for 2017. Nama was the youngest player in this year’s Varsity Cup squad, earning a reputation as one of the most exciting players on the field. At just 19, he joins the likes of Ikey Springboks Eben Etzebeth, Damian de Allende and Dillyn Leyds to make the UCT first team at such a young age.
Soon after the Varsity Cup, Nama was picked for the South African team who played in the International Rugby Board’s World Rugby U20 Championships in Georgia. The team finished third in a tough competition, where most of the players were professionals, and few having academic or other professional commitments. Nama also played in the WP U21 Currie Cup team, a team he co-captained in 2016. A recurring ankle injury put an end to his season (he hobbled up on crutches to receive this trophy) and his presence as a leader was missed on and off the field.
Cheering Nama on at the awards evening were Ikey teammates Joel Smith, Marty Chantler, Stef De Gouveia, Gerard Pieterse. Gary Porter, Waryin Losper, Michael Kumnarai, and Club Captain Suwi Chibale.
