TuksRugby reconfirmed its commitment to transformation by appointing Dabeon Draghoender as the new Director of Coaching.
Draghoender, the first black coach to hold this office, has been in the TuksRugby system for the last five years and played in Tuks teams that won the Varsity Cup, Carlton Cup, Champions of Champions Cup and the USSA Championship title.
Just as noteworthy is the appointment of David Manuel as the new UP-Tuks 1 Varsity Cup Head Coach. He is not only the first black Varsity Cup Head Coach ever, but also the first Head Coach who played for UP-Tuks 1, studied at the University of Pretoria and started his coaching career at Tuks.
Draghoender will be in charge of coaching structures at TuksRugby of his most immediate tasks is to establish a ‘play book’ that will restore the pride of the once feared charges in the famous striped white strip.
Newly appointed TuksRugby chairman, Theuns Reynolds, said it is only appropriate that the club invest in its own people and Draghoender's appointment should be seen in this light.
Draghoender will also be deployed it other roles. He will be the skills coach of the Varsity Cup team and the UP-Tuks 1’s backline coach in the subsequent competitions (Carlton Cup, USSA).
Manuel’s ‘home-coming’ is only till April when the Varsity Cup competition concludes, but the proverbial prodigal son is set on making a telling difference in his limited time as captain of the ship.
“There will be no need to talk about winning. That is a given. My main aim will be to establish a happy environment in which players and management can prosper. Happy people will be optimal performers,” said Manuel.
"I am grateful for the incredible privilege of being in charge of the UP-Tuks Varsity Cup campaign of 2018. Although I was involved in past Varsity Cup competitions with Nollis (Marais), it was as backline coach. Now I'm the one who has to write the script and I am excited about the possibilities the new season hold for UP-Tuks."
According to Manuel, he knows what it takes to be a part of the Tuks culture and he will use this expertise to get the best out of the players so that "they can become UP's top ambassadors".
Reynolds also announced that TuksRugby had obtained the service of Nico Luus and that his appointment as UP-Tuks 1’s post Varsity Cup head coach is with immediate effect. Luus was previously involved as coach at Pretoria Police and then Quins Bobbies. He will be a huge attribute for TuksRugby.
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