Nkhensani Mthombeni
The Springbok Women’s Sevens national team had a Commonwealth Games to forget, coming seventh out of eight teams in England.
However, player Zandile Masuku wasn’t disheartened and said representing the team at an event of that stature was a dream come true.
This was Masuku’s first call to play for South Africa at an international event and in their last match at the Games they smashed Sri Lanka 52-0, and she scored two tries.
The 23-year-old wing from Tzaneen, Limpopo has been included in the squad that will represent the country in the World Rugby Sevens Challenge Series in Chile from August 12 to 14. The challenge series returns after taking a one year-break due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
They are placed in Group D, with China, Chile and Kenya. The team will be looking to improve on their performance and apply what they have learnt in England.
For the Commonwealth Games they could not have had a tougher draw, playing New Zealand, Fijiana and eventual winners Australia in the pool matches.
In Chile, they are placed in a group with China, Chile and Kenya. The team will be looking to improve on their performance and apply what they have learnt in England.
“I will forever cherish this experience. It will remain the event that gave me an introduction to where I am now and how hard I need to work to improve,” she said.
She said scoring tries taught her how important teammates were for her to have such moments.
“The tournament has been a big learning curve for our young team. We played against the top three teams on the world Seven’s circuit and it was tough. But it was good preparation for the competition in Chile and then the World Cup later this year in Cape Town,” she said.
This has been a good year for Masuku, signing a contract with Spanish team Gaztedi Rugby Taldea.
She told Scrolla.Africa that her family and her coach Aschin Klein from the Titans Women’s Rugby Academy, have had a big impact in her career.
She had words of encouragement for anyone who has a dream. “Keep pushing. No matter what obstacles you come across, keep pushing!”
