The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
PETRA College Senior’s outgoing sports captain, Cletos Sunduza has made the grade at the highly acclaimed Sharks Academy in Durban, South Africa where he is heading to next year.
Sunduza, who plays fullback, was spotted when the Petra rugby first team went on a pre-season tour to South Africa during the April holidays.
Petra rugby coach, Cleopas Makotose said he was proud to see one of his products making such a breakthrough. The 18-year-old Sunduza, the Petra first team vice-captain for 2019 is nicknamed the “Stepfather” because of his side stepping skills on the rugby field.
“Cletos ‘The Stepfather’ is a quality kid and rugby player. As a coach we always ask our players to work hard for a breakthrough. Cletos has worked hard every day for this opportunity and it makes me proud as a coach, that we passing on the right message to the players to become better.
Cletos Sunduza (left) in action for Petra College Senior against Christian Brothers College
The former Sables skipper feels that Sunduza making it into the Sharks Academy should serve as an inspiration for other up and coming rugby players.
“When a humble and committed player like Cletos is accepted into the Sharks Academy it’s a big occasion for him and all the young boys that look up to him. Spartans rugby is a new brand of rugby and this is part of the process to us showing the talent we possess at Petra College.”
Makotose, who also coached Sunduza when he played for the Zimbabwe Under-18 sevens rugby at a tournament in Namibia in June, urged his protégé to continue setting the trend. He has no doubt that the youngster will soon be playing rugby at a higher level.
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