BUILT FOR SPEED
Branden de Kock joins a host of Cape Town-born players at the club named after the speedster of the animal kingdom, Cheetahs By Lyndon Julius | Photography: Skhu Nkomphela
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he University of the Western Cape (UWC) has, over the years, developed and produced a solid crop of top sportspersons. A plethora of provincial and national players have graced the halls leading out to the UWC Sport Stadium. One new name that has been added to this ever-growing list
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is Branden de Kock. The scrumhalf recently signed a one-year professional rugby contract with the Toyota Cheetahs, joining a host of Cape Town-born players at the Bloemfontein franchise. The former learner from Brackenfell High School
featured in the history-making FNB UWC side that not only won the 2018 FNB Varsity Shield title but, with the victory, also won promotion to the premier intervarsity competition, the FNB Varsity Cup. The side was coached by the late Bok legend Chester Williams and de Kock highlights the 39-18 victory over FNB Fort Hare in the 2018 Varsity Shield final as his top UWC moment. “There are so many that I can think of but I think winning the Varsity Shield and gaining the promotion [to FNB Varsity Cup] tops my list of most memorable moments with UWC,” de Kock says. “It was amazing, I really can’t describe this feeling; just winning the trophy is top of my achievements with my UWC family. There were a few more if I had to think about them but that [winning the final in 2018] was the main moment for me. Lifting that trophy and getting promotion to the Varsity Cup is a memory I will cherish for a long time.” The nippy scrumhalf lauds the influence of Williams, coach Lionel Langenhoven and current UWC head coach Paul Treu, as well as how the senior players made him feel right at home in the Varsity Cup team when he first joined the squad at the end of 2017. “I always knew that if were to be part of the UWC rugby setup, it would put me on the map,” he adds proudly. “Also, when coach Chester brought me in and I
