Police place faith in young guns for Covid Challenge

Police Rugby Club president Bonga Mntunjana says they will use the Covid Challenge tournament as preparation for next season by trusting their young players both on and off the field.

Police will kick-start their campaign when they take on Berlin Tigers at Police Park on Saturday. 

They will also do battle with Swallows Rugby Club and Ducats as they are all in Pool D. 

The former Eastern Cape Super 12 champions are optimistic about the return to play and being part of club rugby’s return in the Border region after a two-year enforced hiatus.

While busy with their preparation for the newly established tournament, they faced some challenges with the gathering of players.

Mntunjana believes the makeshift tournament will help them prepare for the 2022 season as they plan to introduce new players to see the club through the post-Covid rugby era.

The young talent will also be groomed by coaches, including Yongama Makaza, Thabo Sisusa and Ludwe Booi, who are in the club’s plans for the future. 

“For us as Police, we battled in the last two weeks to get players; we have struggled to get guys,” Mntunjana said. 

“The senior guys have other commitments [but] at least things are looking good now. We have youngsters coming through, we have good-quality coaches and a group of senior players to help these youngsters. 

“It’s looking good for us as a club. For us this is a preparation for next season - that’s why we'll be fielding a lot of youngsters, to keep our club alive and to be able to compete in the Border region against the top clubs.

“We have good young coaches; it goes with the plan of Police to keep the club competitive for the years to come,” the former Police captain said.

With young players being introduced to the club, it doesn't make the older players any less important, according to Mntunjana. 

For the sustainability of the club, Police want to find a relationship between the experienced and inexperienced. The senior players will be trusted with integrating the club’s culture, values and principles to the young players during this period. 

“The old chaps continue adding value to the club, providing direction for a culture transition. The young players must get involved in the culture of the club.

“And they must buy in so that, when they are alone in the years to come, when our senior players have retired, the foundation would have been laid and they will know what Police are all about,” Mntunjana said.