Latest news with #Ikeys
IOL News
16-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
From Varsity Cup to the Springbok squad — Rassie Erasmus says Makhaza will have his day in the green and gold
The rise of varsity student Ntokozo Makhaza from nowhere to the Springbok squad is a heartening story that gives the youth in South Africa hope that their dreams can come true. The 23-year-old from Harrismith in the Free State is studying for a degree in psychology and social development at the University of Cape Town where he has also been an amateur rugby player for Ikeys in the Varsity Cup. A month ago, Rassie Erasmus called Makhaza to invite him to the Springbok alignment camp, but he thought it was a prank call at first. Ikey's had won the Varsity Cup and Makhaza was the Player of the Tournament, as he was last year, too. Erasmus has been watching and was so impressed with the wing's performances — yes, Big Brother Rassie watches everything — that he wanted to find out more. 'Macky,' as he is known to his teammates, duly attended the camp, and Erasmus has reflected on the newcomer's participation. 'It's been a pleasure to work with him,' Erasmus said. 'He's consistently been the top Varsity Cup player, and especially in terms of point scoring, probably one of the best in the competition's history. 'You sometimes wonder, is this one of those players who slipped through the cracks? It's been good to see what he brings.'
The Star
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Ntokozo Makhaza's rags-to-riches progression from ‘nobody' to Springbok alignment camp
Mike Greenaway | Published 7 hours ago Ikeys coach and former Springbok centre Robbie Fleck had the pleasure of telling Ntokozo Makhaza that Rassie Erasmus was making enquires about him, but the young wing thought Fleck was winding him up. 'Rassie called me and asked me questions about 'Makky'. He wanted his number,' Fleck told Independent Media . 'When I told Makky that the Springbok coach would call him, he thought I was joking. 'I had to convince him he was getting a call, and to relax and enjoy the experience.' Makhaza is the bolter who was called up to the Springbok alignment camp, which was held in Cape Town this week. The 23-year-old is a third-year social science student at the University of Cape Town, specialising in psychology. Last month, Fleck's Ikeys side won the Varsity Cup, and Makhaza was the Player of the Tournament, as he was last year too. Erasmus has been watching, and was so impressed with the wing's performance statistics – yes, Big Brother Rassie watches everything – that he called up Fleck to find out more. 'I was surprised when Rassie called in the sense that it is not often a player gets called up straight out of the varsity system,' Fleck said. 'Rassie wanted to know about the person: who the guy is, is he hard-working and coachable? Those are the first questions Rassie asked me,' the former Stormers coach said. 'I said '100 percent' to all of Rassie's questions. 'Mak is a very humble, hard-working, and a true gentleman. He has an incredible work ethic on and off the field.' Makhaza's Northwood High School coach, Grant Bashford, echoed Fleck's sentiments. 'What a lovely kid. He is one of the nicest kids you could ever meet,' Bashford, who assisted John Plumtree in his first coaching tenure at the Sharks, told Independent Media . 'One of the Sharks' scouts discovered this nippy little player down the KZN South Coast, and got him to Northlands Primary (the school is about 2km from Kings Park),' Bashford explained. 'He came to us at Northwood in Grade Eight. 'He was small, but explosive… a Cheslin Kolbe-type kid, with a huge work ethic,' Bashford recalls. 'He was always polite and humble. When the others were messing around, he was the last one kicking balls. He would be the first one in the gym.' Bashford recalls a brilliant performance by Makhaza in a historic win for Northwood, one of the smaller of the tier-one rugby schools in KZN. 'In 2019, for the first time ever, we beat Maritzburg College at Goldstones (their home ground). Our regular flyhalf had been off with his kicking. Mak took the ball and kicked it from everywhere.' Bashford thought Makhaza might go the sevens route. 'I thought his pathway might be to the Blitzboks. But times have changed, and I think Cheslin Kolbe has done so much for getting smaller guys recognised. 'In previous Springbok eras, small guys were overlooked. Cheslin has given the small X-factor guys hope that they can make it. 'Makky played KZN Schools at Craven Week from Northwood. I remember he was so focused in his matric year in going to university in Cape Town to further his education.' Fleck says Makhaza's goal-kicking for the UCT Ikeys has been phenomenal. 'He kicks at 85 percent in howling south-easters, and hits 95 percent on the highveld. 'I told Rassie that Mak has a few shortcomings, but Rassie said that is what his coaching staff is for,' Fleck continued. 'Rassie likes guys with a work ethic that he knows he can improve, especially with a guy like Tony Brown coaching the backs. 'Rassie can take an 80-percenter and turn him into a 100-percenter. He likes players that are prepared to go the extra mile.' Erasmus prefers hard-working wingers who chase, work back, and create opportunities. Fleck adds that Makhaza was almost lost to mainstream rugby, although he has now signed for the Cheetahs for the Currie Cup. 'Credit to him, he was Player of the Tournament last year, but had no provincial offers. He was thinking about sevens, but we said, 'Give it one more year'. 'He had another cracker year, and look at him now.'
IOL News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Ntokozo Makhaza's rags-to-riches progression from ‘nobody' to Springbok alignment camp
Ntokozo Makhaza UCT Ikeys star Ntokozo Makhaza was chosen as the Varsity Cup Player of the Season for the second year in a row. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Ikeys coach and former Springbok centre Robbie Fleck had the pleasure of telling Ntokozo Makhaza that Rassie Erasmus was making enquires about him, but the young wing thought Fleck was winding him up. 'Rassie called me and asked me questions about 'Makky'. He wanted his number,' Fleck told Independent Media. 'When I told Makky that the Springbok coach would call him, he thought I was joking. 'I had to convince him he was getting a call, and to relax and enjoy the experience.' Makhaza is the bolter who was called up to the Springbok alignment camp, which was held in Cape Town this week. The 23-year-old is a third-year social science student at the University of Cape Town, specialising in psychology. Last month, Fleck's Ikeys side won the Varsity Cup, and Makhaza was the Player of the Tournament, as he was last year too. Erasmus has been watching, and was so impressed with the wing's performance statistics – yes, Big Brother Rassie watches everything – that he called up Fleck to find out more. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'I was surprised when Rassie called in the sense that it is not often a player gets called up straight out of the varsity system,' Fleck said. 'Rassie wanted to know about the person: who the guy is, is he hard-working and coachable? Those are the first questions Rassie asked me,' the former Stormers coach said. 'I said '100 percent' to all of Rassie's questions. 'Mak is a very humble, hard-working, and a true gentleman. He has an incredible work ethic on and off the field.' Makhaza's Northwood High School coach, Grant Bashford, echoed Fleck's sentiments. 'What a lovely kid. He is one of the nicest kids you could ever meet,' Bashford, who assisted John Plumtree in his first coaching tenure at the Sharks, told Independent Media. 'One of the Sharks' scouts discovered this nippy little player down the KZN South Coast, and got him to Northlands Primary (the school is about 2km from Kings Park),' Bashford explained. 'He came to us at Northwood in Grade Eight. Ntokozo Makhaza Ntokozo Makhaza (front row, last on the right) in the successful Northwood High School First XV of 2019. In the floppy hat (middle row) is Grant Bashford, a former Sharks assistant coach under John Plumtree. Photo: SUPPLIED Image: SUPPLIED 'He was small, but explosive… a Cheslin Kolbe-type kid, with a huge work ethic,' Bashford recalls. 'He was always polite and humble. When the others were messing around, he was the last one kicking balls. He would be the first one in the gym.' Bashford recalls a brilliant performance by Makhaza in a historic win for Northwood, one of the smaller of the tier-one rugby schools in KZN. 'In 2019, for the first time ever, we beat Maritzburg College at Goldstones (their home ground). Our regular flyhalf had been off with his kicking. Mak took the ball and kicked it from everywhere.' Bashford thought Makhaza might go the sevens route. 'I thought his pathway might be to the Blitzboks. But times have changed, and I think Cheslin Kolbe has done so much for getting smaller guys recognised. 'In previous Springbok eras, small guys were overlooked. Cheslin has given the small X-factor guys hope that they can make it. 'Makky played KZN Schools at Craven Week from Northwood. I remember he was so focused in his matric year in going to university in Cape Town to further his education.' Fleck says Makhaza's goal-kicking for the UCT Ikeys has been phenomenal. 'He kicks at 85 percent in howling south-easters, and hits 95 percent on the highveld. 'I told Rassie that Mak has a few shortcomings, but Rassie said that is what his coaching staff is for,' Fleck continued. 'Rassie likes guys with a work ethic that he knows he can improve, especially with a guy like Tony Brown coaching the backs.
