Klerksdorp Record, Potchefstroom - Leopard captain Khwezi Mafu brings an energy to the team that seems to ramp up every player. When he starts to talk, which is a lot, the players start to listen.
“Only give him 10 minutes, otherwise he’ll talk your ear off,” one of the Leopards’ assistant coaches jokes when we discuss interviewing the team’s captain.
Although a joke it’s not far from the truth, because the 26-year-old captain talks a lot, but unlike those people who can’t stop talking, he never stops talking sense. Arriving to the Leopards in 2023 from the Pumas, his reasons for joining speaks volumes of his character.
“I have a great relationship with Stones (Jimmy Stonehouse, Pumas, head coach). I said to him I want to be playing a continuous run of games. This was the only way that I could measure myself and see where I can improve,” he explains. It was an easy switch to the Leopards as he had done duty with them previously as a loan player.
“Lots of players playing in the premier division don’t want to move down to the first division. I didn’t see it as a step backwards, for me it is about improving as a player and the Leopards have given me the opportunity to do that. Including warm up games, I’ve already played 19 or 20 matches this year.’’
The flanker/lock spent his youth career with the Bulls before moving to the Pumas, he also made a few appearances for the Falcons before linking up with the Leopards. It seems that Khwezi has found his home as he was made captain by Matt Proudfoot when long standing servant of the Leopards, HP Swart retired.
Khwezi matriculated from Grey High in Gqeberha where he remembers lessons learned at the school fondly. “I was asked by a teacher to start swimming. She said I might only get the E or F team, but it will help my conditioning for rugby,” he says. This is something that Khwezi still takes seriously.
“Off season and pre-season is probably more important than in season. If I want to be great at tackling I need to be in the gym and condition my body to that level. If you are not conditioned properly you might get hurt. Or you’ll get that first hit in, and not want to do it again,” he laughs.
Hailing from Qonce formerly known as King William’s Town, Potch is starting to grow on him. “It is a great place, I really enjoy living here, it’s been ‘lekker’ so far,” he says.
Watching Khwezi at training it is easy to see why Proudfoot selected him as captain. He brings a certain energy to the team - and when he talks, they listen.
* The article was originally published in Potchefstroom Herald.
