EAGLES CAPTAIN KRUGEL EYES VARSITY CUP GLORY

Lesiba Dikhoba
@lesiba.dikhoba

The North-West University (NWU) Eagles will begin their FNB Varsity Cup campaign with a clash against 2024 finalist FNB UCT Ikeys on Monday evening at the Green Mile field, Cape Town.

The two sides battled each other in last campaign’s semi-final, with Ikeys defeating the Eagles with a 18-32 victory in an thrilling encounter at the Fanie du Toit Sportsground to book a place in the final where they lost to FNB Shimlas.

Wapad caught up with Eagles’ captain, Stephan Krugel, to discuss the team’s preparations leading up to the upcoming Varsity Cup being played in Cape Town, and their goals for the campaign.


Speaking ahead of the season opener, Stephan Krugel expressed his confidence in the team’s preparations. “We’ve been busy since October last year, which is earlier than usual. We had a camp earlier this year and two warm-up games so we’re confident in our preparations.”

The strong winds in Cape Town pose a unique challenge, something the Eagles have been specifically preparing for. “We’ve been focusing on external factors, particularly the wind. The wind at Green Mile is extremely rough, so you need two game plans when you go down there. We’ve also been analysing UCT’s game style, but it’s mostly about adapting to those environmental factors,” said Krugel.

The captain also emphasised that the Eagles are keen to make a statement in the opening match, and they aim to lift the Varsity Cup trophy. “We want to send a strong message that we’re here to win the Varsity Cup. From the forwards’ side, we want to show that we are the best forward pack in the competition. Our only goal is to win. That’s the focus for the whole campaign,” he added.

For Stephan Krugel, leading the team once again is an honour, but his personal goals align with the team’s collective objective. “It’s a great honour. It’s always a privilege and as long as I can help the team forward, that’s all that matters to me,” said the captain.

Edited by Simoné de Witt