It was a done deal that Ezekiel Ngobeni would captain the Stormers XXIII this week, says coach Tom Dawson-Squibb, who has stuck his neck on the scrumhalf’s future at the club.
Ngobeni takes over the No 9 jersey and captaincy for Friday’s clash against the Vodacom Bulls XV at Loftus, with Stefan Ungerer and Jean-Luc du Plessis ruled out. The Stormers, sixth on the Currie Cup standings, must win to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
Director of rugby John Dobson now has a scrumhalf crisis after Ungerer joined Imad Khan on the injury list, opening a gap for the 21-year-old Ngobeni in the URC and Investec Champions Cup squad.
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“Ezekiel Ngobeni – I’ll eat my hat if he doesn’t play for the Stormers’ URC team this season,” Dawson-Squibb said ahead of the trip to Pretoria.
He explained the thinking behind handing the armband to Ngobeni, who previously led Maties against Dawson-Squibb’s former side, UCT Ikey Tigers, in the Varsity Cup.
“I don’t see it as a one-person thing. What I look at is whether the guy who is going to captain our team brings the energy that I feel the team needs,” the coach said.
“I haven’t had the privilege of working with Zekes for too long. But when I look at him, I see a guy with an absolute natural ability to lead.
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“When he speaks to the players, they listen. I see how comfortably he connects with people of different ages and groups.
“I think he’s probably a future captain of the club. It was an absolute fait accompli that Ezekiel would captain the side this week,” Dawson-Squibb added. “When I spoke to possible contenders such as Louw Nel or Cornel Smit, they were absolutely behind it.”
A Tygerberg High graduate and former Junior Springbok, Ngobeni reflected on what captaining Maties has taught him.
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“It was a proper avenue for me to learn and gain a lot of knowledge and skills, which I can use when speaking to our younger players who are also trying to adapt to that responsibility,” he explained.
“Captaining the Stormers is massive. Growing up here, watching the team as a laaitie, and now getting the opportunity to run out and captain the side is something special.
“I want to honour and do right by the guys in my position, and by those who also want to be here one day.”
Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images
The post Dawson-Squibb: Zekes born to lead Stormers appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
It was a done deal that Ezekiel Ngobeni would captain the Stormers XXIII this week, says coach Tom Dawson-Squibb, who has stuck his neck on the scrumhalf’s future at the club.
The post Dawson-Squibb: Zekes born to lead Stormers appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
