Scrumhalf Abande 'AB' Mthembu will captain FNB Varsity College in their debut season in the 2024 FNB Varsity Shield competition.
Mthembu, the former Westville Boys' High School Head Boy, is no stranger to leading from the front and says he is looking forward to the challenge.
"It's a real honour for me to be the captain for the Varsity College side in the Varsity Shield. Being nominated during the USSA week last year by my teammates and given the history I have with coach Jeremy (McLaren) makes it even more special to me. It's a huge privilege for me to be able to represent this team both on and off the field.”
Mthembu comes into the squad with Varsity Cup experience having played for FNB Maties in 2021 and returns to Durban to lead the Varsity College side.
"They say that things come full circle, and having been schooled here and now I'm back here representing this team in my hometown is a fantastic opportunity for me. We are showing people that there are opportunities here in Durban for players that want to make it, and we want to create a legacy where players can come and express themselves,” says Mthembu.
Mthembu believes that his side is heading in the right direction.
"Our preparation has been great, and our fitness is right where it needs to be at this stage, and we can only grow from here. We are taking it step by step and everything that we are doing is one day at a time, one session at a time until we get to where we need to be.”
All teams want to play exciting rugby and entertain the crowds. For Mthembu, he's confident that his team will produce their unique style of rugby.
"If we had to say what our brand of rugby is, I would say it's about expressing ourselves.”
