Q&A with Beast Ndwandwa
We caught up with FNB Shimlas speedster Beast Ndwandwa who has already scored four tries in the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.
Last year this time, Beast was playing for the Free State in the Vodacom Cup. He also played for the Free State Under-21 team that won last year's competition - but, this year, he is experiencing the ultimate, in the Varsity Cup!
Known by his parents as Mayibuye, Ndwandwa spoke to us about how he got his nickname, how big an inspiration his older brother has been to him and what tradition means to him.
This what the Varsity Cup's Beast told varsitycup.co.za:
(1) Varsity Cup (VC): Why did you specifically decide to go to Kovsies and what are you studying?
Beast Ndwandwa (BN): "I come from a very tradition-oriented school (Queen's College in Queenstown), so I naturally feel that tradition is a very impotent part of my life. I quickly learned that Kovsies had a tradition and, of course, Shimlas have a great tradition in producing Springbok rugby players! I'm a second year LLB student."
(2) VC: Is there anyone in the family that is (or was) also good in rugby or sport?
BN: "Yes, my brother Sintu Ndwandwa was a very talented winger and fullback, in fact, I'm tempted to say he was better then me at his prime. He studied at UCT and played two seasons (2003 and 2004) for the Ikeys."
(3) VC: Where does your nickname 'Beast' came from?
BN: "A friend of mine at school came up to me after a Under-14 game and told me I don't just look like a beast, I play like one too. So the name started off as a joke, but it stuck with me through my performances."
(4) VC: Do you have any superstitions regarding rugby?
BN: "Yes, I do have a superstition. Every time I put my jersey on, I have my own personal prayer to God, before the team prays together."
(5) VC: Do you have a personal goal for the Varsity Cup, or the rest of the season?
BN: "I have a number of goals, but the most important one for me is to help my team reach the finals and win it. For the rest of the season, I would like to represent South Africa at whichever level."
(6) VC: What aspects of your game would like to improve on?
BN: "I would say my physical approach towards the game. In order for me to do that, I have to lift some serious weights to gain some extra kilograms."
(7) VC: What's your favourite rugby stadium in South Africa to play in?
BN: "It has to be Newlands. It just has the most colorful atmosphere."
(8) VC: What's the most valuable rugby advice you've ever received and who was your rugby hero when you were young?
BN: "My father once said to me - 'You are not bigger then the game, make sure you play rugby for the right reasons and always enjoy yourself'. Growing up, my brother Sintu was my hero. I used to love watching him play for my school's first team!"
(9) VC: And which player(s) do you admire nowadays?
BN: "At present I have two players I admire; Dan Carter (Crusaders and All Blacks) and Lelia Masaga (Chiefs and All Blacks). I admire Carter for his precision and vision and Masaga for his finishing abilities."
(10) VC: Do you struggle with butterflies in your stomach before matches and how do you manage it?
BN: "Yes, I do struggle, especially before big games. I deal with it by feeding off the energy of the team and constantly telling myself that God has already decided who's going to win and all I have to do is go out on the field and do my best."
By Ruan Bruwer