A DECADE ago the Daily Dispatch reported on Ncedo Koyana, an inspirational young rugby player from Gonubie in East London who was selected for the Baby Boks’ U19 World Cup squad in France.
Koyana never dreamed he would be part of the team that clinched the World Cup in 2003.
“We were hungry to win and believed in ourselves even though most people wrote us off and that was our strongest point. We rose to the occasion and gelled,” said Koyana, who was in matric at Selborne College at the time.
That hunger to conquer propelled Koyana to greater heights .
Speaking from his new home in KwaZulu-Natal , Koyana said after matric he was selected for the Sharks Rugby Academy after his talent was spotted at Craven Week in 2002.
“That was like a reward for the hard work and dedication that I had put into rugby throughout my school years.”
A year later Koyana went on to represent the country in the U19 World Cup squad.
In 2005 he captained the U20 Sharks team. “I was very honoured and excited .”
In 2006 Koyana was injured playing for the Sharks but this did not hold him back for long .
“I was out of the game for six months, and one year after my injury I bounced back, this time as a coach at the academy.”
Since then Koyana had coached young talents such as Patrick Lambie, Paul Jordaan and Cobus Reinach.
“I was fortunate to work with many great talents while coaching at the academy.”
But the time has come for Koyana to attend to what he calls his other calling – caring for the vulnerable .
As from next month Koyana will head the board of the LIV Village in Durban, an organisation that provides holistic residential care for vulnerable children.
Its core vision is to rescue a child, restore a life, raise a leader, and release a star.
“T here is so much more to life and what a person can do for others,” he said.
Having realised some big dreams, Koyana said for now his focus is on assisting other young people to realise their dreams. —
Star now helping others
Koyana never dreamed he would be part of the team that clinched the World Cup in 2003.
“We were hungry to win and believed in ourselves even though most people wrote us off and that was our strongest point. We rose to the occasion and gelled,” said Koyana, who was in matric at Selborne College at the time.
That hunger to conquer propelled Koyana to greater heights .
Speaking from his new home in KwaZulu-Natal , Koyana said after matric he was selected for the Sharks Rugby Academy after his talent was spotted at Craven Week in 2002.
“That was like a reward for the hard work and dedication that I had put into rugby throughout my school years.”
A year later Koyana went on to represent the country in the U19 World Cup squad.
In 2005 he captained the U20 Sharks team. “I was very honoured and excited .”
In 2006 Koyana was injured playing for the Sharks but this did not hold him back for long .
“I was out of the game for six months, and one year after my injury I bounced back, this time as a coach at the academy.”
Since then Koyana had coached young talents such as Patrick Lambie, Paul Jordaan and Cobus Reinach.
“I was fortunate to work with many great talents while coaching at the academy.”
But the time has come for Koyana to attend to what he calls his other calling – caring for the vulnerable .
As from next month Koyana will head the board of the LIV Village in Durban, an organisation that provides holistic residential care for vulnerable children.
Its core vision is to rescue a child, restore a life, raise a leader, and release a star.
“T here is so much more to life and what a person can do for others,” he said.
Having realised some big dreams, Koyana said for now his focus is on assisting other young people to realise their dreams. —
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