Head coach Lloyd announces Gold Cup team
The tournament will provide a big opportunity for the likes of reserve back Tinus Oosthuysen, who featured for United’s u-21 side two years ago.
East Rand United head coach Colin Lloyd has named the squad which will represent the club and Boksburg at this year’s South African Rugby Union (SARU) Gold Cup club competition.
Lloyd was assisted by his coaching staff, Sean Plaatjies and Monde Petela, as well as two selectors in revealing the 23 men that will do battle against the country’s finest at the club’s home base in Reiger Park.
They play their opening match of the competition against College Rovers in Durban on Saturday (March 9), followed by playing their first Gold Cup match at home on March 16.
Out of the 23, only one new face features in blindside flank Sibongile Njombo, who joins United from Naka Bulle.
United faithful will welcome the return of Cameron Lentoor, who returns to team up with Leon Potgieter in the backline for what promises to be a devastating combination of pace.
The two were the fastest players in the Valke Peregrine League two years ago before Lentoor left United.
Versatile hooker Jonathan Botha will continue his captaincy of the side with help from the likes of vice-captain Clayton Gindan and loose forward Calvin Jantjies.
Speaking ahead of the Rovers encounter, Lloyd said: “It’s not going to be easy for us but we’re 100 per cent prepared. Rovers is a very good team, especially at their own ground.
“We will have to be in their faces all the time to give ourselves a good chance and our defence needs to be tight until the end. It definitely won’t be easy but we ready and we look forward to it.”
East Rand United Gold Cup squad and team that faces Rovers:
1 Andre Myburg, 2 Jonathan Botha (c), Saki Klaas, 4 Jaques van Tonder, 5 Kholekile Bakumeni, 6 Piet Mnguni, 7 Sibongile Njombo, 8 Tyrone Schaper; 9 Tiaan Ramat, 10 Clayton Gindan, 11 Leon Potgieter, 12 Waylon Thompson, 13 Cameron Rooi, 14 Jacky Jonkers, 15 Cameron Lentoor.
Reserves: 16 Branden Haywood, 17 Dirk van Wyk, 18 Khahliso Thabana, 19 Calvin Jantjies; 20 Kevin Plaatjies, 21 Tinus Oosthuysen, 22 Marion Nqweniso, 23 Hanriel Coetzee.
Coaching staff: Colin Lloyd (head coach), Sean Plaatjies and Monde Petela (both assistant coaches) – @SabeloBoksburg
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