Lively Southern Kings scrumhalf Ntando Kebe is proof that persistence pays off if you want to achieve your sporting dreams.
A few months ago, 27-year-old Kebe was in East London busy preparing to play for the Border Bulldogs in the Currie Cup which kicks off next month.
But Kebe’s world was turned upside down when he was invited to attend trials in Port Elizabeth to play for the Kings in their opening Super Rugby match against the Sharks.
Today Kebe is in the Kings starting line-up to face the Chiefs of New Zealand at Nelson Mandela Bay stadium.
Kebe’s name was on a list of Border and SWD Eagles players the Kings coaches wanted to see when they began a frantic recruiting programme.
The recruiting started after SA Rugby stepped in to take over the Southern Kings franchise because of cash problems at EP Rugby.
“To be honest there was a stage that I thought it was getting too late, at the age of 27, to play at the top level,” Kebe said.
“I told myself to keep on trying and they gave me a good opportunity and I grabbed it with both hands.”
Kebe said it had been a proud moment when he ran onto the field to make his Super Rugby debut against the Sharks at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium two weeks ago.
The Sharks ran out easy 43-8 winners, but the loss has not dampened Kebe’s hopes for the season.
“It was tough to lose but I did not take it personally because it is just a start and the beginning of new things and a new challenge for me. I did not feel out of my league because I have played international games before,” Kebe said.
In 2012 Kebe was included in a South African Barbarians (South) team that faced England during the 2012 mid-year rugby Test series. The following year, he was named in a SA President’s team that played in the 2013 IRB Tbilisi Cup in Georgia.
His team won the tournament after winning all three matches.
“I must say Super Rugby is another level. It is the toughest competition in world rugby so there was a little bit of pressure in my debut match,” Kebe said.
Kebe said he almost quit rugby after failing to make the Craven Week team while studying at Thubalethu High in Fort Beaufort.
“I was in Grade 11 and I thought, let me focus on books and just play rugby for fun. But when I got to the University of Fort Hare they said that I must take rugby seriously again and I followed their advice,” Kebe said.
Kebe represented the Border Bulldogs in the 2007 U19 provincial championship competition and at U21 level in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
In 2010, he was included in the Bulldogs senior squad for the 2010 Vodacom Cup tournament and started the first game of the season – a 69-8 defeat to the Natal Sharks.
He quickly established himself as a regular for the senior side and played in both the Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup competitions between 2010 and 2012 – accumulating 42 appearances in total.
After three seasons of senior rugby at the Border Bulldogs, Kebe moved to Wellington to join the Boland Cavaliers and played in all seven of their games in the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition.
After his brief but successful stint at Boland, Kebe moved to Griquas for the Vodacom Cup in 2014 before returning to Border.
Asked what his ambitions were, Kebe said: “This is my goal and my dream and I am living in it. Wearing the Kings jersey and playing Super Rugby at my age is my dream.
“For me to be a good scrumhalf I still need to work more on simple basic things, so that I can compete with the best scrumhalvess in the world like Aaron Smith. We are playing in the same competition, but I have to work more,” Kebe said.
“The coaches are still working on things ... when they want me to pass from the base, for example, and when to run up,” he said.
Kebe said when he arrived in Port Elizabeth from the Bulldogs he did not know what to expect.
“It was tough for the first time at the Kings. I met coach Deon Davids for the first time and did not know what sort of a coach he is. Now I know that he is the kind of coach that when you are between the four lines you have to work hard,” Kebe said.
Kebe feels his selection for the Kings is a shot-in-the-arm for Border rugby and will spark new interest in the sport.
After today’s match, the Kings head for New Zealand, where they face tough matches against the Crusaders and Hurricanes.
“The overseas trip is not going to be easy but I am looking forward to it. It will be my first time in New Zealand,” he said.
Kebe said the competition between himself and other scrumhalvess who wanted to don the No 9 jersey in Super Rugby for the Kings, was healthy.
Kebe started against the Sharks with Kevin Luiters on the bench. Other contenders for the prized No9 jersey are Leighton Eksteen and James Hall.
“I put my body on the line in each and every game. It is a tough sport. Against the Sharks I took a knock and I was a bit dizzy, but I was fine after a few seconds,” he said.
Kebe had a poignant message for young players who want to make it to the top.
“Don’t stop chasing your dream,” Kebe urged.
“Because what I achieved I did at a later stage of my career. Young players must keep on working hard. It is never too late,” Kebe added.
Border’s Kebe thrives with Super challenge
A few months ago, 27-year-old Kebe was in East London busy preparing to play for the Border Bulldogs in the Currie Cup which kicks off next month.
But Kebe’s world was turned upside down when he was invited to attend trials in Port Elizabeth to play for the Kings in their opening Super Rugby match against the Sharks.
Today Kebe is in the Kings starting line-up to face the Chiefs of New Zealand at Nelson Mandela Bay stadium.
Kebe’s name was on a list of Border and SWD Eagles players the Kings coaches wanted to see when they began a frantic recruiting programme.
The recruiting started after SA Rugby stepped in to take over the Southern Kings franchise because of cash problems at EP Rugby.
“To be honest there was a stage that I thought it was getting too late, at the age of 27, to play at the top level,” Kebe said.
“I told myself to keep on trying and they gave me a good opportunity and I grabbed it with both hands.”
Kebe said it had been a proud moment when he ran onto the field to make his Super Rugby debut against the Sharks at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium two weeks ago.
The Sharks ran out easy 43-8 winners, but the loss has not dampened Kebe’s hopes for the season.
“It was tough to lose but I did not take it personally because it is just a start and the beginning of new things and a new challenge for me. I did not feel out of my league because I have played international games before,” Kebe said.
In 2012 Kebe was included in a South African Barbarians (South) team that faced England during the 2012 mid-year rugby Test series. The following year, he was named in a SA President’s team that played in the 2013 IRB Tbilisi Cup in Georgia.
His team won the tournament after winning all three matches.
“I must say Super Rugby is another level. It is the toughest competition in world rugby so there was a little bit of pressure in my debut match,” Kebe said.
Kebe said he almost quit rugby after failing to make the Craven Week team while studying at Thubalethu High in Fort Beaufort.
“I was in Grade 11 and I thought, let me focus on books and just play rugby for fun. But when I got to the University of Fort Hare they said that I must take rugby seriously again and I followed their advice,” Kebe said.
Kebe represented the Border Bulldogs in the 2007 U19 provincial championship competition and at U21 level in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
In 2010, he was included in the Bulldogs senior squad for the 2010 Vodacom Cup tournament and started the first game of the season – a 69-8 defeat to the Natal Sharks.
He quickly established himself as a regular for the senior side and played in both the Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup competitions between 2010 and 2012 – accumulating 42 appearances in total.
After three seasons of senior rugby at the Border Bulldogs, Kebe moved to Wellington to join the Boland Cavaliers and played in all seven of their games in the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition.
After his brief but successful stint at Boland, Kebe moved to Griquas for the Vodacom Cup in 2014 before returning to Border.
Asked what his ambitions were, Kebe said: “This is my goal and my dream and I am living in it. Wearing the Kings jersey and playing Super Rugby at my age is my dream.
“For me to be a good scrumhalf I still need to work more on simple basic things, so that I can compete with the best scrumhalvess in the world like Aaron Smith. We are playing in the same competition, but I have to work more,” Kebe said.
“The coaches are still working on things ... when they want me to pass from the base, for example, and when to run up,” he said.
Kebe said when he arrived in Port Elizabeth from the Bulldogs he did not know what to expect.
“It was tough for the first time at the Kings. I met coach Deon Davids for the first time and did not know what sort of a coach he is. Now I know that he is the kind of coach that when you are between the four lines you have to work hard,” Kebe said.
Kebe feels his selection for the Kings is a shot-in-the-arm for Border rugby and will spark new interest in the sport.
After today’s match, the Kings head for New Zealand, where they face tough matches against the Crusaders and Hurricanes.
“The overseas trip is not going to be easy but I am looking forward to it. It will be my first time in New Zealand,” he said.
Kebe said the competition between himself and other scrumhalvess who wanted to don the No 9 jersey in Super Rugby for the Kings, was healthy.
Kebe started against the Sharks with Kevin Luiters on the bench. Other contenders for the prized No9 jersey are Leighton Eksteen and James Hall.
“I put my body on the line in each and every game. It is a tough sport. Against the Sharks I took a knock and I was a bit dizzy, but I was fine after a few seconds,” he said.
Kebe had a poignant message for young players who want to make it to the top.
“Don’t stop chasing your dream,” Kebe urged.
“Because what I achieved I did at a later stage of my career. Young players must keep on working hard. It is never too late,” Kebe added.
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