By now, most Tuks sports fans are well aware that the Tuks women's A-crew clinched their seventh consecutive USSA Boat Race title. But what may come as a surprise is that the Cox who pushed the crew to their limits, Simphiwe Tshabalala, won't be guiding them next year. Tshabalala is now in Oxford, England, pursuing law studies at Oxford Brookes University.

"I wanted to study law. The other reason why I left is because I am passionate about rowing. The reality, however, is that there are few opportunities to compete if you are a cox. For a cox, the most significant event in South Africa is the USSA Boat Race. I want to race. In Britain, I can.

"To race for Tuks in the Boat Race with my brother, Phume, is a memory I will cherish for a long time. We did not win, but we all can hold our heads high as everyone gave their all in the final. Another lasting memory will be coxing Tuks women's A-crew to a seventh consecutive victory. The women raced a heck of a race."

Tshabalala was an avid rower up to Grade 10 but felt like making a change. So he took up coxing. 

What does it take to be a good cox?

"That's a tricky question. It is hard to judge yourself. Usually, you get judged by external peers or coaches, but the one thing that helped me throughout this process was learning very quickly. 

"I always say that I have one of the best lines, which might be just a bit of arrogance, but, you know, I say what I say. Listening to my crew, I can adapt my strategy during a race. And, you know, all also the knowledge that I have. I've built a lot of knowledge from different coaches.

“What’s of cardinal importance is that the crew trusts whatever I say. If I call for a push, they need to believe in that decision wholeheartedly. If it doesn’t work out, then it doesn’t—but that trust has to be there. It’s a two-way street. Just as much as they trust my calls, I trust them to respond and give their all when I ask for it."

"Building relationships with every rower is essential, especially if you want to succeed. It doesn't mean that if you build a good relationship, you'll win, but you know, you'll enjoy it more, and your chances of succeeding will be much better purely because you're doing everything together. It is also essential for a cox to trust the coach."

The Tuks coach, Thato Mokoena, can't help but be proud of how the women's A-crew raced.

"The girls approached the race with maturity and discipline, allowing the cox to guide them through the course efficiently. They ended up beating UJ in the final by 1:40 seconds. They are now just one win away from tying Rhodes Regatta's record.

"The A men’s crew is in a transition phase, having lost many strong rowers over the years, with only two members returning from last year’s crew. Despite these changes, their performance—finishing just one second behind UCT—marks a significant improvement."