Godfrey to captain FNB Madibaz

Maidza said the 24-year-old Godfrey - who captained the SWD Eagles in several Currie Cup matches last season - was a natural leader and the obvious choice. "Roy does not need any motivation to play for the team and, because he did such a brilliant job of leading the side last year, I felt that it was only sensible for him to carry on with the job." He described Godfrey as an astute player who thought about the game and worked hard for his team. "He leads by example and the players respect him."

One of the best

Godfrey said he was very excited to work with Maidza, who has held coaching positions with the Border Bulldogs, Free State Cheetahs and Eastern Province Kings. "He's coached some very good teams, so I'm going to be learning from one of the best in the business." Godfrey said the job of captaining was so much easier when there was good synergy between the skipper and coach.

The second-year business management student elected to return to his Eastern Cape roots in 2012, after playing junior rugby for the Sharks' U19 and U21 teams. Godfrey said he had learned a lot from his previous outings in the Varsity Cup, which he would share with his players. "Every game is very intense and they are all equally hard. You really can't take any teams lightly and you have to be at your best every single week. I like making my actions speak louder than words but I also motivate a lot by talking on the field."

Squad has depth

The East London-born player said he was greatly encouraged by the current depth in his squad and believed they could book a berth in the final after losing their semi-final clash with FNB Maties by a single point last year. Aside from his professional rugby aspirations, Godfrey said he worked hard to maintain the balance with his academic commitments. "We literally train all day every day, so in my breaks I get to classes and make sure that I put in the necessary work."

The FNB Madibaz will play a friendly warm-up match against the Free State Cheetahs on Tuesday, 21 January and the match kicks off at the NMMU Stadium at 5pm. FNB Madibaz will face FNB Maties in their first Varsity Cup game on 3 February. This match will be televised and starts at 4.45pm at the NMMU Stadium. Entrance to all matches is free and spectators are advised to arrive early to secure a seat.