Rugby Kapteins. In ons gewilde reeks oor sport kapteins, gesels Schools That Rock vandag met JJ Diederiks. JJ is die kaptein van Hoërskool Adamantia in Kimberley se 1ste rugbyspan. JJ druk vandag die derde drie in ons reeks vanjaar oor Rugby Kapteins van hoërskole in Suid-Afrika.
“Ek het op die ouderdom van nege begin rugby speel. Die rede waarom ek begin rugby speel het, is dat ek voel dat ek myself kan verbeter deur rugby te speel. Ek is baie lief vir die sport. Nog ‘n rede hoekom ek begin rugby speel het, is omdat al my vriende rugby speel en ek wou nie uit voel nie. Dit was die beste besluit wat ek ooit geneem het.
Ek onthou dat ek baie bang was toe ek my eerste wedstryd gespeel het. Ek was baie bang om seer te kry en ook onseker oor wat ek wanneer moet doen. My eerste wedstryd was teen Laerskool Newton en Rooies het vir ons geblaas. Ek het daardie dag my heel eerste “tackle” gemaak, maar ongelukkig was dit hoog, so ek het ‘n geel kaart gekry.
Ek was die eerste keer tot rugby kaptein verkies in 2016 toe ek o.11 by Laerskool Eureka gespeel het. Die eerste keer wat ek as rugby kaptein op die veld gedraf het, was ek baie onseker en bang dat ek verkeerde besluite sou maak. Ek moet ook sê dat ek op dieselfde tyd trots op myself was dat ek dit kon bereik.
Raad aan beginners
My raad aan beginners is om nooit te dink jy is goed genoeg nie. Rugby is 80% hart en 20% “skill.” Gee altyd jou beste sodat jy nie later moet sê jy kon beter gedoen het nie. Jy moet altyd weet jy het jou beste gegee en dis genoeg vir jou.
As rugby kaptein speel ek tans nommer 10 en ek is nog nie heeltemaal tevrede oor my posisie nie. Ek het al 6,7,8,9,10,11,13,14 en 15 gespeel. Ek sal egter my beste gee om myself te verbeter – nie net vir myself nie, maar vir my span ook.
Om my span gemotiveerd te hou, bou ek hulle op deur hulle te laat glo hulle kan dit doen. Die wedstryd is nog nie verby totdat die fluitjie geblaas het nie. Hulle kan dan nog ‘n verskil in die wedstryd maak. Dit vat een vlam om ‘n veld aan die brand te steek. My sleutel tot sukses op die rugbyveld is om nooit op te gee nie, al raak dinge hoe moeilik. Wat my ook inspireer wanneer ek op die veld draf, is die ouens agter my wat my sien as hulle leier. Ek voel dat hulle in my glo en dat ek nie my span in die steek sal laat nie.
Lekkerste wedstryd
My lekkerste wedstryd van my rugby loopbaan tot dusver was die een in 2022 teen Kimberley Boys High. Ons het almal as ‘n span saam gespeel en die wedstryd goed klaar gemaak. Ek het daardie dag 3 drieë gedruk en my span het dit vir my moontlik gemaak. Die wedstryd wat ek liewer gou wil vergeet, is die een tydens die Wildeklawer kompetisie aan die begin van die seisoen. Meeste van ons span, insluitend ek, het beserings opgedoen en dit was hartseer om my spanmaats in soveel pyn en hartseer te sien.
Na ‘n moeilike wedstryd vra ek raad en leiding by my afrigter, Mnr Jordaan. Hy sien altyd die beste in my en laat my glo ek is beter as wat ek dink ek is. Hy help my om na ‘n moeilike wedstryd my kop te lig en te fokus op die volgende wedstryd.
My grootste rugbyheld is Morné Steyn. Hy is so ‘n goeie speler en ek wou van kleins af soos hy rugby speel. Hy het al verskeie erkennings ontvang en hy inspireer my om beter te wees. My persoonlike rugby doelwit vanjaar is om vir die GWK-week, waar die beste spelers speel, gekies te word. Ek gaan beslis na skool rugby speel en my bes probeer om op Universiteitsvlak in die Varsity Cup vir Maties uit te draf.
Rugby hoogtepunt
My enkele grootste rugby hoogtepunt was toe ek hierdie jaar in Graad 11 verkies was as 1ste span rugby kaptein.
Buiten rugby speel ek ook graag krieket en ek neem deel aan atletiek.
Die professionele rugbyspeler met wie ek graag wil koffie drink, is Morné Steyn
Ek sal myself in een woord beskryf as hardwerkend.
Rugby Captains. In our popular series about sports captains, Schools That Rock talks to JJ Diederiks today. JJ is the captain of Adamantia High School in Kimberley’s 1st rugby team. JJ today scores the third try in our series this year over Rugby Captains of high schools in South Africa.
“I started playing rugby at the age of nine. The reason I started playing rugby is that I feel that I can improve myself by playing rugby. I really love the sport. Another reason I started playing rugby is because all my friends played rugby and I didn’t want to feel out. It was the best decision I ever made.
My first game
I also remember being very scared when I played my first game. I was very scared of getting hurt and also unsure of what to do when. Furthermore I remember my first game was against Newton Elementary School and Rooies was the rev. I made my very first tackle that day, but unfortunately it was high, so I got a yellow card.
I was first elected captain in 2016 when I played U11 at Eureka Primary School.The first time I jogged onto the field as rugby captain, I was very insecure and afraid that I would make wrong decisions. At the same time I was also proud of myself that I was able to achieve this.
Advice to beginners
My advice to beginners is to never think you’re good enough. Rugby is 80% heart and 20% “skill.” Always give your best so you don’t have to say later that you could have done better. You should always know you gave your best and that’s enough for you.
I’m playing No.10 right now and I’m not quite happy about my position yet. I’ve played 6,7,8,9,10,11,13,14 and 15. However, I will give my best to improve myself — not just for myself, but for my team as well.
I keep my team motivated by building them up and by making them believe they can do it. The match is not left until the final whistle blows. They still can make another difference in the match. It takes one flame to set a field on fire. My key to success on the rugby field is to never give up, no matter how difficult things get. What also inspires me when I’m jogging on the field are the guys behind me who see me as their leader. I feel like they believe in me, and I won’t let my team down.
Most enjoyable game
My most enjoyable game of my rugby career so far was the one in 2022 against Kimberley Boys High. We all played together as a team and finished the game well. I scored 3 tries that day and my team made it possible for me. The match I’d rather forget soon is the one during the Wildeklawer competition at the start of the season. Most of our team, including me, suffered injuries and it was sad to see my teammates in so much pain and grief.
After a difficult game, I seek advice and guidance from my coach, Mr Jordaan. He always sees the best in me and makes me believe I am better than I think I am. He also helps me lift my head after a difficult match and focus on the next game.
My biggest rugby hero is Morné Steyn. He’s such a good player and I wanted to play rugby like him from a young age. He has received several recognitions and he inspire me to be better. My personal rugby goal this year is to be selected for the GWK week, where the best players play. I will also play rugby after school and try my best to run at university level in the Varsity Cup for Maties.
My single biggest rugby highlight was being selected as 1st team rugby captain in Grade 11 this year.
Apart from rugby, I also enjoy playing cricket and I participate in athletics.
The professional rugby player I would like to have coffee with is Morné Steyn
I would describe myself in one word as hardworking.
Meer skolenuus: https://schoolsthatrock.co.za
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