Rugby Kapteins. In ons gewilde reeks oor sport kapteins, gesels Schools That Rock vandag met Marco Steyn. Marco is die 1ste rugbyspan kaptein van Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale, Riversdal, in die Suid-Kaap. Marco druk vandag die veertiende drie in ons reeks vanjaar oor Rugby Kapteins van hoërskole in Suid-Afrika.
“Ek het begin rugby speel in Graad R toe ek ses jaar oud was. Rugby is ‘n sport wat my baie na aan die hart lê. Vir my is dit nie net ‘n sport nie, maar ‘n leefstyl. Dit was baie lank terug wat ek my eerste wedstryd gespeel het, maar ek dink ek sou opgewonde gewees het oor die wedstryd. Ek onthou ook die koue oggende wat ons met kaal voete op die nat gras moes rondhardloop en jou tone wat afgevries het.
My raad aan beginners is – werk hard vir jou drome en jou doelwitte en moet nooit opgee nie.
Die posisie wat ek tans speel, is loskopstut en vaskopstut en ek het in my jonger dae ook agsteman gespeel.
Die eerste keer wat ek as kaptein gekies is, was toe ek o.15 gespeel het. Toe ek die eerste keer as rugby kaptein op die veld gedraf het, het ek dit beskou as ‘n groot voorreg en ‘n groot trots om ons span te verteenwoordig.
Motivering
Ek hou ons span gemotiveerd tydens ‘n wedstryd deur self altyd positief te bly en om hulle te herinner vir wie ons speel. Dan ook die 460 broers op die pawie en die wapen op ons bors.
Volgens my is die vermoëns/eienskappe waaroor ‘n goeie rugbyspeler moet beskik, Selfdisipline, Respek, Nederigheid.
My sleutel tot sukses op die rugbyveld, as rugby kaptein, is om die Oakdale karakter uit te leef, asook die eenheid tussen ons as spelers en ook al ons broers op die pawiljoen. Wat my elke keer inspireer wanneer ek op die rugbyveld draf vir ‘n wedstryd, is my 460 broers wat elke naweek bankvas agter ons staan en die blou golf wat “Hoor die stemme” sing.
My lekkerste game van my rugby loopbaan tot dusver, was teen Grey Kollege in 2022 toe ons gelykop gespeel het teen hulle op die plaas. Die wedstryd wat ek beslis nie wil onthou nie, was Paul Roos Gimnasium. Die rede – ek het ‘n besering opgedoen en kon ek nie interskole speel nie.
My beste rugbybesluite wat ek, as rugby kaptein geneem het, was om ‘n 2de span speler of reserwe welkom te laat voel en om hulle deel te maak van die broederskap en ek as kaptein om hom ten volle te “back”, maak nie saak wat nie.
Wanneer ons ‘n moeilike wedstryd gehad het, sal ek nie direk na die “game” iets daaraan doen nie. Dit is altyd moeilik om die vrae te vra, want almal is maar emosioneel. Ek sal gewoonlik deur die naweek of die komende Maandag praat met ons “coaches”.
Grootste Rugbyheld
My grootste rugbyheld is Steven Kitshoff, want hy is ‘n baie groot voorbeeld vir my as kaptein, spreker en individu.
My persoonlike rugby-doelwit wat ek graag vanjaar wil bereik is om Interskole hier op die plaas te speel.
Ja, ek beoog om na skool rugby op ‘n professionele vlak te speel.
Ek hanteer my verantwoordelikhede by rugby, saam met my sosiale en akademiese verantwoordelikhede, deur ‘n gebalanseerde leefstyl te handhaaf. Ek bestuur my tyd reg en ek stel ook my prioriteite reg.
My grootste enkele hoogtepunt van my rugbyloopbaan? In my junior loopbaan het ek maar C en D spanne gespeel, en toe graad 11 (2022) kom, is ek gekies vir die eerstespan en ook vir die O/18 Cravenweek span.
Rugby Captains
In our popular series about sport captains, Schools That Rock talks to Marco Steyn today. Marco is the 1st rugby team captain of Oakdale Agricultural High School in Riversdale, in the Southern Cape. Marco today hits the fourteenth try in our series this year over Rugby Captains of high schools in South Africa.
“I started playing rugby in Grade R when I was six years old. Rugby is a sport that is very close to my heart. For me, it’s not just a sport, but a lifestyle. It was a very long time ago when I played my first game, but I think I would have been excited about the match. I also remember the cold mornings we had to run around with bare feet on the wet grass and your toes freezing off.
My advice to beginners is – work hard for your dreams and your goals and never give up.
The position I’m currently playing is loosehead prop and tighthead prop and I also played eighth man in my younger days.
The first time I was selected as captain was when I played under-15. The first time I jogged onto the field as rugby captain, I considered it a great privilege and also a great pride to represent our team.
Motivation
I keep our team motivated during a game by always staying positive myself and reminding them who we play for. Then also the 460 brothers on the pawie and our logo on our chest.
In my opinion, the abilities/qualities that a good rugby player should possess, are Self-discipline, Respect and then also Humility.
My key to success on the rugby field is to live out the Oakdale character, as well as the unity between us as players and all our brothers in the pavilion. What inspires me every time I jog on the rugby field for a game is my 460 brothers standing behind us every weekend. And then also the blue wave singing: “Hear the voices”.
My most enjoyable game of my rugby career so far was against Grey College in 2022. We drew against them on the farm. The match I don’t want to remember was Paul Roos Gymnasium. The reason – I suffered an injury and could not play interschools.
My best rugby decisions I made, were to make a 2nd team player or reserve feel welcome and to make them part of the fraternity and me as captain to fully “back” him no matter what.
When we’ve had a tough game, I won’t do anything about it right after the game. It’s always hard to ask the questions because everyone is just emotional. I will usually talk to our coaches during the weekend or the coming Monday.
Biggest rugby hero
My biggest rugby hero is Steven Kitshoff because he is a great example to me as a captain, speaker and individual.
My personal rugby goal that I would like to achieve this year is to play Interschools here on the farm.
Yes, I intend to play rugby at a professional level after school.
I handle my responsibilities at rugby, along with my social and academic responsibilities, by maintaining a balanced lifestyle. I manage my time correctly and I also set my priorities straight.
My biggest single highlight of my rugby career? In my junior career, I only played C and D teams, and when Grade 11 (2022) came, I was selected for the first team and also for the U/18 Craven Week team.
Yes, apart from rugby I play for the 1 XV cricket team.
The professional rugby player I like to have coffee with, is Siya Kholisi, because Coach Bakkies doesn’t drink coffee.
I would describe myself in one word as hardworking.”
More school news: https://schoolsthatrock.co.za
Photos supplied