PDBY had the privilege to interview a young FNB Varsity Young Guns Tuks rugby player. The featured athlete is the senior sides technical manager and also the youngest team manager in Young Guns Tuks history. Lucian Bekker hails from the Free State and came to Tuks to study BEd Senior Phase, of which he is currently a third year student.
On the field Bekker plays as a fullback for the Young Guns team in both the Varsity Cup and the Carlton Cup. The sheer load of being team manager on top of being a player and a student, intrigued PDBY. What are his plans going forward?
When asked about where he sees the managerial role leading him, he was quite upfront with his response. Responding with, “I think most people would be surprised if I told them that I see myself going forward with being a team manager. I see myself continuing to make that impact as it’s something that makes me enjoy my work at the end of the day.” He even joked that since he was enjoying managing the team so much and was so focused on it, that sometimes education was his ‘side hustle’.
We asked him how he found himself in this position to which he replied, “I’ve always been
a hustler and busy. So, I went out to the TuksRugby office and asked them if they had any
positions open for students. Then two days later they contacted me with a list of requirements I
needed to meet and being a rugby player as well, I had an advantage. Then afterwards they told me there was a managerial role open if I was interested and well I took it.”
With the future roles he could see himself in, PDBY probed whether he would ever see himself in the coaching role. To which he responded rather humbly with, “For now I’ll stick with the managerial side of things as I’m still very young. But when I get older that is something I would love to do because it’s something I could see myself enjoying. As I have been around these people and being exposed to it has shown me what it’s like. So, if I had to say I continued with this, I could see myself going down the coaching road.”
Yet as the senior team found themselves relegated to the Varsity Shield, PDBY dove into what impact this would have on the Varsity Young Guns team. He shared that the team will slot into a Blue Bulls competition next year because of the senior team being relegated. Then with regards to the team he plays and manages for, PDBY was interested in how the Young Guns were fairing in the Carlton Cup. Lucian was eager to share that they reached the semi-finals and will be playing on 21 July against the Naka Bulls at Loftus Park to see if they can secure a place in the finale.
Finally we asked if he had any message he would like to share with the readers to which he responded, “I would just like to take this moment to tell all the youngsters coming into university
that you can do what you want to do, no matter what other people say. Just chase your dreams no matter what and don’t get demotivated by negative comments. Just go for it.”