Varsity Shield's 'point of no return'
Yesterday at 03:19 AM
SPOTLIGHT: Madibaz prop Imibongo Mvuleni will have a front row seat when his team puts everything on the line against the University of the Western Cape to win a spot in the Varsity Shield Final.
The highly-anticipated semifinal clash at the Madibaz Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Friday is the result of an impressive 2025 campaign for the home team.
After suffering an opening-round defeat against Varsity College, who eventually topped the tournament standings, they fought back gamely to finish second on the log.
The semifinal is a rematch of last month's thrilling round-robin encounter against UWC in which they scored a try after the final hooter to snatch a 27-24 victory.
By securing the runners-up spot, Madibaz have also earnt the right to face UJ (seventh in the Varsity Cup) in a promotion-relegation playoff.
Mvuleni, a 22-year-old from East London, has played a key role in the team's six-match winning streak and his impact was highlighted when he was named the Player that Rocks in last week's triumph over CPUT.
The third-year student, who made his Varsity Shield debut in 2023, was thrilled to receive the accolade for the very first time.
"I always strive to improve with each game, so being recognised in this way reassures me that I'm on the right track," the front row forward, who weighs in at 115kg, said.
"The award also motivates me to keep working hard as we approach these crucial matches."
Mvuleni has brought valuable experience to a squad that began the campaign with almost a dozen debutants.
"We were obviously disappointed to start with a loss but we used it as motivation. We kept reminding ourselves of what was at stake and worked hard to ensure we didn't experience that same disappointment again."
He said playing their must-win encounter at home would make the occasion even more special as the support "is a huge boost".
"I'm excited that we've reached this stage," Mvuleni, who believes they are now closer than ever to their shared goal of winning the competition and earning promotion to the Cup, said.
Head coach David Manuel still remembers how the player had joined the team from the university's George campus.
"He sent me a picture of himself on WhatsApp, saying he wanted to be part of the squad.
"I told him he would need to move to Port Elizabeth to train with us and, since making that decision, his growth has been remarkable."
The coach highlighted both his strength in scrummaging and his growing leadership role within the team.
"Our approach is to develop players holistically and 'Imi' has exemplified that through his work ethic on and off the field," Manuel said.
"As a group, we aim to inspire others and show what can be achieved with dedication and commitment."
Meanwhile, the coach acknowledges the challenge UWC poses in the semis.
"There's a bit of nervousness because they're a quality side with a strong set piece and structured game plan, but they also thrive in unstructured play.
"We'll need to be strategic in our decision-making and trust in the systems that have brought us success this season."
