Eastern Cape duo Lungelo Gosa and Siviwe Soyizwapi have been selected to be part of a 12-member travelling to the invitational Sevens tournament in Italy and Switzerland in an overseas tour starting next week.
Saru Sevens academy manager, Marius Schoeman has praised the two for displaying sheer talent, adding that they were selected purely on basis of merit and not that of their colour.
Gosa, who attended school at Selborne College went from the Craven Week straight to the academy two years ago, has been praised by Schoeman for showing growth since then although he believes he would have been far had he not been hampered by injury for a long time.
As for Soyizwapi, who also plies his trade for the EP Kings, Schoeman believes is a young man with the potential to put pressure on Seabelo Senatla and Cecil Afrika in the Blitzbokke set-up.
“The two are prospects for the future and an epitome of black excellence who have proven that there are black players who can rise up the ranks on merit,” said Schoeman.
“Gosa is a brilliant player with good pace but has just been unfortunate with injuries since joining the academy but he has been shaping up nicely since his return from injury a few months ago and has also shown massive progression in his game since he first joined the academy.
“Soyizwapi is pure quality such that he is the kind of player you do not have to spend much time on as a coach.”
Schoeman said Gosa and Soyizwapi were key members of the travelling squad that was going to Europe with the objective to win both tournaments back-to-back.
First will be the Roma tournament on June 12 and 13 at the Acqua Acetosa Stadium before a journey to Switzerland where the Geneva Sevens will battle it out at the Centre Sportif du Bout Monde on June 19-20.
Schoeman was confident that his charges were ready to rock the boat, saying they will be bolstered by the experience of Ruhan Nel and Carel du Preez.
Said Schoeman: “We have had an eye on certain players for a while now and it is pleasing that they were available for selection.
“These guys are all showing massive potential to graduate to the national team and some of them will even push for places in the Olympic Games in Rio next year.”
Schoeman however emphasised that much as they wanted to win both tournaments, “our primary focus is to see if these players can make a step up to the Blitzbokke”.
Pair set to fly province’s flag high in Sevens tournament in Europe
Saru Sevens academy manager, Marius Schoeman has praised the two for displaying sheer talent, adding that they were selected purely on basis of merit and not that of their colour.
Gosa, who attended school at Selborne College went from the Craven Week straight to the academy two years ago, has been praised by Schoeman for showing growth since then although he believes he would have been far had he not been hampered by injury for a long time.
As for Soyizwapi, who also plies his trade for the EP Kings, Schoeman believes is a young man with the potential to put pressure on Seabelo Senatla and Cecil Afrika in the Blitzbokke set-up.
“The two are prospects for the future and an epitome of black excellence who have proven that there are black players who can rise up the ranks on merit,” said Schoeman.
“Gosa is a brilliant player with good pace but has just been unfortunate with injuries since joining the academy but he has been shaping up nicely since his return from injury a few months ago and has also shown massive progression in his game since he first joined the academy.
“Soyizwapi is pure quality such that he is the kind of player you do not have to spend much time on as a coach.”
Schoeman said Gosa and Soyizwapi were key members of the travelling squad that was going to Europe with the objective to win both tournaments back-to-back.
First will be the Roma tournament on June 12 and 13 at the Acqua Acetosa Stadium before a journey to Switzerland where the Geneva Sevens will battle it out at the Centre Sportif du Bout Monde on June 19-20.
Schoeman was confident that his charges were ready to rock the boat, saying they will be bolstered by the experience of Ruhan Nel and Carel du Preez.
Said Schoeman: “We have had an eye on certain players for a while now and it is pleasing that they were available for selection.
“These guys are all showing massive potential to graduate to the national team and some of them will even push for places in the Olympic Games in Rio next year.”
Schoeman however emphasised that much as they wanted to win both tournaments, “our primary focus is to see if these players can make a step up to the Blitzbokke”.
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